Nutritional status, food consumption patterns and candidiasis among quilombola women in a municipality in Maranhão

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nutritional and dietary profiles and the presence of Candida spp. in quilombola women. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 47 women from quilombola areas, collecting sociodemographic and clinical data, anthropometric assessments, application of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and microbiological analysis of vaginal fluid. Statistical analysis included the Chi-square and Fisher tests for categorical associations with the presence of Candida, Shapiro-Wilk for normality, and Student's t or Mann-Whitney tests for continuous variables between positive and negative groups for Candida. The results indicated a prevalence of low education and low income, and a frequency of 21.3% of women with the presence of Candida spp.. Caloric intake was high, with high carbohydrate intake, and deficient intake of vitamin A, vitamin E, selenium and calcium. There was a significant association between Candida spp. and education, percentage of adequacy of CB, consumption of whole milk, artificial soft drinks and açaí. The findings highlight the need for additional research to better understand the impact of diet, nutritional status, and microbiota on the predisposition to vulvovaginal candidiasis in quilombola women.