Dietary Patterns and Factors Associated with Food Affinity in Pregnant Women from Quito, Ecuador

Nutrition during pregnancy influences perinatal outcomes and predispositions to chronic diseases. A prospective cohort study was carried out with the objectives of describing the dietary patterns in the pregnant population in the city of Quito, Ecuador and analysing the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors that influence the adherence to each dietary pattern. The body mass index was calculated for each patient, and the patients were classified according to the Atalah criteria. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was also applied. The dietary patterns were assessed using a dietary survey with a 24 h recall on two occasions. A total of 535 pregnant women were included. A positive association was found between the pattern "dairy, salads and sweet snacks/dressings" and foreign nationality (β = 0.82 (0.43;1.21)). The "refined carbohydrates" pattern was negatively associated with education equal to or less than 7 years and an income of up to one basic salary (β = -0.59 (-1.05; -0.14)). The "traditional Ecuadorian" pattern showed a positive association with being born in the coastal region of Ecuador (β = 0.62 (0.22; 1.01)). This study identified three dietary patterns in pregnant women and their possible associations with certain sociodemographic factors. More studies are needed to better understand these patterns as well as to analyse their nutritional and caloric properties.