Transtornos alimentares em puérperas adolescentes

Objective: To describe the profi le of postpartum adolescents with positive characteristics for restrictive eating disorders in the Maternity Clinic, Darcy Vargas Regional Hospital, Rio Bonito. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 150 young (15 – 20 years old) mothers during the fi rst 48 hours postpartum, using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and its subscales (concerns about fi gure / weight / food intake and dietary restrictions) in order to assess eating behaviors. The profi les of participants rated as positive by this tool have been described in a set of case studies. Results: The study showed that almost 30% of the respondents had positive scores for at least one subscale, with some 16% and 18% being overly concerned with about weight and fi gure respectively. The case study profi le encompasses adolescents with normal pre-pregnancy weight, fi ve or more prenatal consultations and more than eight years of schooling. Conclusion: the fi ndings show signifi cant levels of eating disorders among teenagers during a crucial period of their lives, with the challenge of approaching them in these situations, exacerbated by infrequent visits to healthcare facilities by this group. Prenatal care may well offer a vital window of opportunity for detecting vulnerable groups, strengthening links and building up lines of care through networks, assigning top priority to primary care as the gateway.