title: Making compromises: a qualitative study of sugar consumption behaviors during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore influences on women's sugar consumption behaviors during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focused ethnography guided this qualitative study. Contrasting experiences between women with varying sugar intakes were investigated using semi-structured interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metropolitan area, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen women with varying intakes of added sugar, who were in the third trimester of their first pregnancy, participated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sugar consumption behaviors during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis to inductively derive themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnant women increased their intake of sugars in an effort to achieve a compromise between meeting nutrition recommendations, lifestyle adjustments, physical symptoms, and cultural norms. Physical symptoms, lack of nutritional guidance, and social pressures were identified as barriers to achieving a diet low in sugars, whereas implementing dietary strategies guided by nutritional knowledge was a facilitator.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research provides insights that may be used to design effective interventions to improve maternal health. Strategies to help pregnant women achieve a healthy diet and limit sugar intake should be guided by nutritional knowledge, dietary awareness, and internal motivations to engage in healthy dietary changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Jocelyn E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayan
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McCargar
authors.forename: Rhonda C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002241:Carbohydrates; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates
keywords: behavior; diet; pregnancy; qualitative research; sugars