Diet and pregnancy: health-care providers and patient behaviors

In this study, associations between health-care providers (HCPs) discussing diet with their pregnant patients and patient dietary behavior were assessed in addition to factors related to HCPs discussing diet with their patients. Questionnaires were completed by 237 pregnant women and 31 HCPs at 12 obstetrics-gynecology clinics across the United States. Patients provided versus those not provided dietary counseling by their HCP were more likely (OR = 2.17, 95%; CI = 0.75-6.25) to engage in healthy dietary practices. HCPs that discussed multiple health behaviors were nearly four times more likely to discuss diet with their pregnant patients compared with HCP who did not discuss other health behaviors (OR = 3.67, 95%; CI = 1.10-12.28). This study indicates that HCP education can positively impact dietary behaviors of their pregnant patients.