Maintenance of methylmercury-rich fish consumption during pregnancy: prevalence, professional recommendations and associated maternal characteristics

Introduction: Our aims were to estimate the prevalence of MeHg-rich fish consumption, the proportion of women who received healthcare recommendations to avoid their consumption and to identify the factors associated with the maintenance of consumption during pregnancy.

Material and methods: In 2016, a cross-sectional study based on a random sampling of all the women who had given birth between September 2015 and August 2016 was conducted in Galicia, Spain. Information was collected through a structured telephone interview regarding the mother’s status 6 months before pregnancy, during pregnancy, at the time of delivery, and at the time of the survey. The prevalence of MeHg-rich fish consumption, was estimated before and during pregnancy and a logistic regression model was adjusted to ascertain variables associated with maintaining consumption during pregnancy.

Results: The consumption of swordfish or bluefin, was 30% during the 6 months prior to pregnancy and decreased to 7% during pregnancy. Maintenance of MeHg-rich fish consumption during pregnancy was associated with not living in an urban environment, multiparity, consumption of over 1 portion of MeHg-rich fish per week prior pregnancy, and with not having received professional recommendations in order to avoid consumption; 5 out of 10 women received these recommendations during the prenatal check-ups.

Conclusions: Some of the factors associated with continuing the consumption during pregnancy are modifiable and should be considered in the development of public health messages intended to promote an adequate diet during pregnancy.