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Social representations on the diet of nursing mothers

Emanuele Souza Marques 1
Rosângela Minardi Mitre Cotta 1
Maria Izabel Vieira Botelho 2
Sylvia do Carmo Castro Franceschini 1
Raquel Maria Amaral Araújo 1

Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Universidade
Federal de Viçosa. Avenida
P.H. Rolfs s/n, Campus
Universitário. 36.570-000
Viçosa MG. [e-mail] 2
Departamento de
Economia Rural,
Universidade Federal de
Viçosa, Minas Gerais
1

Abstract This is a qualitative study that sought to establish the significance attributed by women to adequate eating habits with respect to prohibited, permitted and breastmilk-enhancing products during breastfeeding. It was based on the
Theory of Social Representations described by
Moscovici (2003) and Minayo (2006). 58 mothers of children up to 2 years of age living in the city of Coimbra in Minas Gerais state participated in the survey. Comprehensive analysis of feeding revealed that the new mothers interviewed understood the need for a special diet during postpartum based on healthy, fortified and lactoserich food, as well as the need for ingesting liquids.
Breatfeeding mothers appreciated the need to avoid hot, creamy and fatty food. In this perspective, feeding during this physiological phase implies an understanding of cultural, social and historical aspects which dictate eating habits. This assists in understanding customs and beliefs in order to provide professional assistance geared to the group being assisted in its proper context.
Key words Breastfeeding, Postpartum, Eating habits, Anthropology of feeding, Social representation

Resumo Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, que buscou compreender os significados atribuídos pelas mulheres ao hábito alimentar, no que se referem às proibições, permissões e lactogogos durante o aleitamento materno. Como fundamentação teórica, utilizou-a Teoria das Representações Sociais descrita por Moscovici (2003) e Minayo (2006).