Educational instrument for intervention in the lifestyle of overweight pregnant women

Abstract Objectives: to conduct the semantic validation of the images and text in educational material about eating and lifestyle for overweight women in different stages of pregnancy. Methods: qualitative, descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study with focus groups for adapting and semantically validating the messages and images of educational material for women in three moments of the pre-natal period, as well as the support scripts for healthcare providers. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ – Portuguese acronym) were considered. Results: participants of this study were seven pregnant women aged 21 to 40 who were in pre-natal care and 17 nutritionists aged 25 to 51. The folder was validated over seven meetings with the focus group, with one-week intervals between the groups. For each folder there were at least two meetings with focus groups, and one meeting for each script. The language was adjusted for the messages, and two images were changed to improve the self-identification of pregnant women. Technical and didactic adaptations were suggested for the scripts. Conclusion: images and text were semantically adapted; the instrument is easy to use in primary and secondary healthcare, providing support for pregnant women and healthcare providers on the subject of eating habits and lifestyle for overweight women in different stages of pregnancy.