Urban social environment and low birth weight in 360 Latin American cities

Objective: Using data compiled by the SALURBAL project (Urban Health in Latin America; ‘Salud Urbana en América Latina’) we quantified variability in low birth weight (LBW) across cities in Latin America, and evaluated the associations of socio-economic characteristics at various levels (maternal, sub-city and city) with the prevalence of LBW. Methods: The sample included 8 countries, 360 cities, 1321 administrative areas within cities (sub-city units) and birth registers of more than 4.5 million births for the year 2014. We linked maternal education from birth registers to data on socioeconomic characteristics of sub-cities and cities using the closest available national population census in each country. We applied linear and Poisson random-intercept multilevel models for aggregated data. Results: The median prevalence of city LBW by country ranged from a high of 13% in Guatemala to a low of 5% in Peru (median across all cities was 7.8%). Most of the LBW variability across sub-cities was between countries, but there were also significant proportions between cities within a country, and within cities. Low maternal education was associated with higher prevalence of LBW (Prevalence rate ratios (PRR) for less than primary vs. completed secondary or more 1.12 95% CI 1.10, 1.13) in the fully adjusted model. In contrast, higher sub-city education and a better city social environment index were independently associated with higher LBW prevalence after adjustment for maternal education and age, city population size and city gross domestic product (PRR 1.04 95% CI 1.03, 1.04 per SD higher sub-city education and PRR 1.02 95% CI 1.00, 1.04 per SD higher SEI). Larger city size was associated with a higher prevalence of LBW (PRR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01, 1.12). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the presence of heterogeneity in the distribution of LBW and the importance of maternal education, local and broader social environments in shaping LBW in urban settings of Latin America. Implementing context-sensitive interventions guided to improve women’s education is recommended to tackle LBW in the region.Fil: Rodríguez López, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Tumas, Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Ortigoza, Ana. Drexel University; Estados UnidosFil: Lima Friche, Amélia Augusta de. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Diez Roux, Ana Victoria. Drexel University; Estados Unido

Cesarean sections and social inequalities in 305 cities of Latin America

Background: Cesarean section (CS) is a surgical procedure that, when medically justified, can help reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Worldwide CS rates (CSR) have been increasing; Latin America has rates that are among the highest in the world. Aim: Describe the variability of CSR across cities in Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru and examine the relationship of individual-level, sub-city, and city-level socioeconomic status (SES) with CSR. Methods: We used individual level data from vital statistics over the period 2014–2016 (delivery method, mother's age and education), census data to characterize sub-city SES and city GDP per capita from other sources compiled by the SALURBAL project. We fitted multilevel negative binomial regression models to estimate associations of SES with CSR. Results: 11,549,028 live births from 1,101 sub-city units in 305 cities of five countries were included. Overall, the CSR was 52%, with a wide range across sub-cities (13–91%). Of the total variability in sub-city CSRs, 67% was within countries. In fully adjusted model higher CSR was associated with higher maternal education [(PRR (CI95%) 0.81 (0.80–0.82) for lower educational level, 1.32 (1.31–1.33) for higher level (ref. medium category)], with higher maternal age [PRR (CI95%) 1.23 (1.22–1.24) for ages 20–34 years, and 1.48 (1.47–1.49) for ages ≥ 35 years (ref. ≤19 years], higher sub-city SES [(PRR (CI95%) 1.02 (1.01–1.03) per 1SD)], and higher city GDP per capita [(PRR (CI95%): 1.03 (1.00–1.07) for GDP between 10,500–18,000, and 1.09 (1.06–1.13) for GDP 18,000 or more (ref. <10,500)]. Conclusion: We found large variability in CSR across cities highlighting the potential role of local policies on CSR levels. Variability was associated in part with maternal and area education and GDP. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for this pattern and any policy implications it may have.Fil: Perner, Mónica Serena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Lanús; ArgentinaFil: Ortigoza, Ana. Drexel University; Estados UnidosFil: Trotta, Andrés. Universidad Nacional de Lanús; ArgentinaFil: Yamada, Goro. Drexel University; Estados UnidosFil: Braverman Bronstein, Ariela. Drexel University; Estados UnidosFil: Friche, Amélia Augusta. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Alazraqui, Marcio. Universidad Nacional de Lanús; ArgentinaFil: Diez Roux, Ana Victoria. Drexel University; Estados Unido

Oral skills and breastfeeding performance of premature newborns hospitalized in a neonatal unit

ABSTRACT Purpose: to compare oral skills and functional breastfeeding performance at the time of speech-language-hearing assessment and tube removal in premature newborns admitted to a neonatal unit. Methods: a cross-sectional observational study in premature newborns without serious pathologies, admitted to the neonatal unit of a hospital of the Public Health System, from May to August 2022. Data were collected from the medical records, and premature newborns were assessed regarding the readiness for oral feeding, breastfeeding performance, and oral skill level at the time of assessment and tube removal. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare these measures at both moments, setting the significance level at 5%. Results: the study sample had 126 premature newborns with a mean weight of 1,937.2 g and a mean gestational age of 33.1 weeks. Both the breastfeeding performance score (from 6.5 to 8.2) and the oral skill level improved between the two moments, with more premature babies in level IV (the most mature), with a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.001). Conclusion: the breastfeeding performance and oral skill levels improved between the speech-language-hearing assessment and tube removal in hospitalized premature infants, indicating development in skills during this process

The equigenic effect of greenness on the association between education with life expectancy and mortality in 28 large Latin American cities.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies highlight the equigenic potential of greenspaces by showing narrower socioeconomic health inequalities in greener areas. However, results to date have been inconsistent and derived from high-income countries. We examined whether urban greenness modifies the associations between area-level education, as a proxy for socioeconomic status, and life expectancy and cause-specific mortality in Latin American cities. METHODS: We included 28 large cities, >137 million inhabitants, in nine Latin American countries, comprising 671 sub-city units, for 2012-2016. Socioeconomic status was assessed through a composite index of sub-city level education, and greenness was calculated using the normalized difference vegetation index. We fitted multilevel models with sub-city units nested in cities, with life expectancy or log(mortality) as the outcome. FINDINGS: We observed a social gradient, with higher levels of education associated with higher life expectancy and lower cause-specific mortality. There was weak evidence supporting the equigenesis hypothesis as greenness differentially modified the association between education and mortality outcomes. We observed an equigenic effect, with doubling magnitudes in the violence-related mortality reduction by education in areas with low greenness compared to medium-high greenness areas among men (16% [95% CI 12%-20%] vs 8% [95% CI 4%-11%] per 1 SD increase in area-level education). However, in contradiction to the equigenesis hypothesis, the magnitude in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) mortality reduction by education was stronger in areas with medium-high greenness compared to areas with low greenness (6% [95% CI 4%-7%] vs 1% [95% CI -1%-3%] and 5% [95% CI 3%-7%] vs 1% [95% CI -1%-3%] per 1 SD increase in area-level education, in women and men, respectively). Similarly, each 1-SD increase in greenness widened the educational inequality in life expectancy by 0.15 years and 0.20 years, in women and men, respectively. The equigenic effect was not observed in violence-related mortality among women and in mortality due to communicable diseases, maternal, neonatal and nutritional conditions (CMNN). INTERPRETATION: Our results confirm socioeconomic health inequalities in Latin American cities and show that the equigenic properties of greenspace vary by health outcome. Although mixed, our findings suggest that future greening policies should account for local social and economic conditions to ensure that greenspaces provide health benefits for all, and do not further exacerbate existing health inequalities in the region. FUNDING: Wellcome Trust (Grant, 205177/Z/16/Z)

Characterising variability and predictors of infant mortality in urban settings: findings from 286 Latin American cities.

BACKGROUND: Urbanisation in Latin America (LA) is heterogeneous and could have varying implications for infant mortality (IM). Identifying city factors related to IM can help design policies that promote infant health in cities. METHODS: We quantified variability in infant mortality rates (IMR) across cities and examined associations between urban characteristics and IMR in a cross-sectional design. We estimated IMR for the period 2014-2016 using vital registration for 286 cities above 100 000 people in eight countries. Using national censuses, we calculated population size, growth and three socioeconomic scores reflecting living conditions, service provision and population educational attainment. We included mass transit availability of bus rapid transit and subway. Using Poisson multilevel regression, we estimated the per cent difference in IMR for a one SD (1SD) difference in city-level predictors. RESULTS: Of the 286 cities, 130 had 5 million. Overall IMR was 11.2 deaths/1000 live births. 57% of the total IMR variability across cities was within countries. Higher population growth, better living conditions, better service provision and mass transit availability were associated with 6.0% (95% CI -8.3 to 3.7%), 14.1% (95% CI -18.6 to -9.2), 11.4% (95% CI -16.1 to -6.4) and 6.6% (95% CI -9.2 to -3.9) lower IMR, respectively. Greater population size was associated with higher IMR. No association was observed for population-level educational attainment in the overall sample. CONCLUSION: Improving living conditions, service provision and public transportation in cities may have a positive impact on reducing IMR in LA cities

Prevalência de perda auditiva e vulnerabilidade a saúde em crianças de 25 a 36 meses: uma análise da distribuição espacial

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar a associação entre perda auditiva e a vulnerabilidade à saúde em crianças na faixa etária de 25 a 36 meses. Método Estudo observacional analítico do tipo transversal realizado por meio da triagem auditiva infantil em nove creches. A triagem constou de anamnese, meatoscopia, timpanometria, emissões otoacústicas transientes e audiometria tonal limiar. Para cada exame realizado foi estabelecido o critério de “passa” e “falha”. Os endereços residenciais das crianças foram georreferenciados e foi construído mapa coroplético da distribuição espacial, considerando o Índice de Vulnerabilidade à Saúde (IVS). Foi realizada análise de associação entre o IVS com as variáveis sexo, exames audiológicos e regional de domicílio por meio dos testes Qui-quadrado de Pearson, e Exato de Fisher. Resultados Foram avaliadas 95 crianças de ambos os sexos, destas, 44,7% apresentaram alteração em pelo menos um dos exames realizados, sendo encaminhadas para avaliação otorrinolaringológica e auditiva. Das alterações observadas 36,9% ocorreram na timpanometria e 7,8% nas emissões otoacústicas transientes. Dentre crianças encaminhadas para avaliação, 9,7% apresentaram diagnóstico de perda auditiva do tipo condutiva, 13,6% resultados dentro da normalidade e 21,4% não compareceram para reavaliação. Das crianças que apresentaram o diagnóstico final de perda auditiva do tipo condutiva (9,7%), 1,9% foi classificado como IVS de risco baixo e 6,8% como IVS de risco médio. Houve significância estatística entre IVS e o local de residência da criança. Conclusão Não houve associação com significância estatística entre alteração auditiva e IVS, entretanto foi possível observar que 77,7% das crianças com diagnóstico de perda auditiva residiam em setores censitários de risco médio do IVS

Building a Data Platform for Cross-Country Urban Health Studies: the SALURBAL Study.

Studies examining urban health and the environment must ensure comparability of measures across cities and countries. We describe a data platform and process that integrates health outcomes together with physical and social environment data to examine multilevel aspects of health across cities in 11 Latin American countries. We used two complementary sources to identify cities with ≥ 100,000 inhabitants as of 2010 in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru. We defined cities in three ways: administratively, quantitatively from satellite imagery, and based on country-defined metropolitan areas. In addition to "cities," we identified sub-city units and smaller neighborhoods within them using census hierarchies. Selected physical environment (e.g., urban form, air pollution and transport) and social environment (e.g., income, education, safety) data were compiled for cities, sub-city units, and neighborhoods whenever possible using a range of sources. Harmonized mortality and health survey data were linked to city and sub-city units. Finer georeferencing is underway. We identified 371 cities and 1436 sub-city units in the 11 countries. The median city population was 234,553 inhabitants (IQR 141,942; 500,398). The systematic organization of cities, the initial task of this platform, was accomplished and further ongoing developments include the harmonization of mortality and survey measures using available sources for between country comparisons. A range of physical and social environment indicators can be created using available data. The flexible multilevel data structure accommodates heterogeneity in the data available and allows for varied multilevel research questions related to the associations of physical and social environment variables with variability in health outcomes within and across cities. The creation of such data platforms holds great promise to support researching with greater granularity the field of urban health in Latin America as well as serving as a resource for the evaluation of policies oriented to improve the health and environmental sustainability of cities