Abstract Objective Evaluate the association between breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding at six months and the introduction of complementary feeding during the pre-pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic periods. Methods Cohort study conducted with puerperal women and their newborns in the immediate postpartum period at a reference maternity hospital in Southern Brazil between 2018-2020. The COVID-19 pandemic period and the need to work outside the home during restricted circulation were the factors of exposure. The outcome evaluated was the weaning in the first six months (breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding) and the introduction of complementary feeding before the sixth month of life. Results 547 puerperal women and their newborns were included. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a higher risk to weaning of exclusive breastfeeding up until six months (RR 1.16; 95%CI 1.03-1.31) and introducing complementary feeding early (RR 1.40; 95%CI 1.01-1.96). The need to work outside the home during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of not breastfeeding exclusively at the sixth month (RR 1.27; 95%CI 1.08-1.49). Conclusions The difficulties of the pandemic did reflect negatively on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. The pandemic was a risk factor for the early weaning of exclusive breastfeeding and the introduction of complementary feeding. However, not having to work outside the home during the pandemic period was a protective factor for exclusive breastfeeding at six months.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o consumo alimentar diário e a contribuição dos alimentos ultraprocessados na dieta de gestantes soropositivas e soronegativas para o vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV). Métodos Estudo de caso-controle com 77 puérperas soropositivas e 79 soronegativas entre 2015 e 2016. Analisaram-se dados socioeconômicos e demográficos maternos, e aplicou-se um questionário de frequência alimentar (QFA) adaptado para gestantes. Utilizou-se o teste exato de Fisher e o teste de Mann-Whitney para detectar diferenças entre os grupos. A regressão linear avaliou a associação entre o consumo de ultraprocessados e de energia, macro e micronutrientes. Valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados significativos. Resultados O grupo de puérperas soropositivas foi mais velho (p < 0,001), com menor renda familiar (p = 0,016) e escolaridade (p < 0,001) quando comparado com o grupo das soronegativas. Ambos os grupos apresentaram médias de consumo semelhantes, com 4.082,99 Kcal/dia entre as puérperas soropositivas e 4.369,24 kcal/dia entre as soronegativas (p = 0,258). Observou-se que as puérperas soropositivas consumiam menos proteínas (p = 0,048), carboidratos (p = 0,028) e cálcio (p = 0,001), e mais gorduras totais (p = 0,003). Os ultraprocessados corresponderam a 39,80% das calorias entre as soropositivas, e a 40,10% entre as soronegativas (p = 0,893). O consumo destes alimentos esteve associado a um maior consumo de carboidratos (p < 0,001), gordura trans (p = 0,013) e sódio (p < 0,001), e a um menor consumo de proteínas (p < 0,001) e fibras (p = 0,022). Conclusão Esses achados demonstram que o consumo de energia e de alimentos ultraprocessados foram semelhantes nos dois grupos, o que reforça a tendência ao consumo elevado de alimentos ultraprocessados na população geral. O consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados foi positivamente associado ao consumo de carboidratos, gorduras trans e sódio, e negativamente associado ao consumo de proteínas e fibras.

Abstract Objective To assess the daily dietary intake and energy contribution of ultraprocessed foods among women who are positive and negative for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during pregnancy. Methods This case-control study included 77 HIV-positive and 79 HIV-negative puerperal women between 2015 and 2016. The socioeconomic and maternal demographic data were assessed, and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) adapted for pregnant women was applied. The Fisher exact test and the Mann-Whitney test were applied to detect differences between the groups. Linear regression was used to assess the associations between the intake of ultra-processed food and energy, macro- and micronutrients, with values of p < 0.05 considered significant. Results The HIV-positive group was older (p< 0.001) and had lower income (p= 0.016) and level of schooling (p< 0.001) than the HIV-negative group. Both groups presented similar average food intake: 4,082.99 Kcal/day and 4,369.24 Kcal/day for the HIV-positive and HIV-negative women respectively (p= 0.258).The HIV-positive group consumed less protein (p= 0.048), carbohydrates (p= 0.028) and calcium(p= 0.001), andmore total fats (p= 0.003). Ultra-processed foods accounted for 39.80% and 40.10% of the HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups’ caloric intake respectively (p= 0.893). The intake of these foods was associated with a higher consumption of carbohydrates (p < 0.001), trans fat (p= 0.013) and sodium (p< 0.001), as well as lower protein (p < 0.001) and fiber intake (p= 0.022). Conclusion These findings demonstrate that the energy consumption and ultraprocessed food intake were similar in both groups, which reinforces the trend toward a high intake of ultra-processed food in the general population. The intake of ultraprocessed food was positively associated with the consumption of carbohydrates, trans fat and sodium, and negatively associated with the consumption of protein and fiber.