title: [Nutritional and psychological factors associated with the occurrence of pica in pregnant women].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the nutritional and psychological factors associated with the occurrence of the practice of pica in pregnant women attending a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was based on a descriptive design with exploratory features, and conducted on 13 adult and adolescent pregnant women aged 16 to 40 years with a diagnosis of pica in the current pregnancy. Pica was diagnosed by a nutritionist in a standardized interview situation, when questions about the occurrence and frequency of pica, and types of substance ingestion were investigated. After signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF), all participants were evaluated by a nutritionist and seven of them were submitted to psychological assessment with standardized instruments to evaluate stress and anxiety, and to assess coping strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The type of pica most frequently reported was pagophagia (30.8%) and the consumption of fruit with salt (30.8%). The most prevalent coping strategies were "religious practice-focused" and "seeking social support", both presented by 42% of the pregnant women. We observed the occurrence of some degree of stress and anxiety in all pregnant women, as well as comorbidities (69.2%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (84.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering that pica may be associated with increased perinatal risk, it is very important to investigate this disorder during prenatal care, and to dopt obstetric, psychological and nutritional preventive practices to reduce the complications for mother and fetus.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde Perinatal, Maternidade Escola, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ayeta
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Cristina Barros da
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sonaly Petronilho
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Heidelmann
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010842:Pica / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological