Why do some countries do better or worse in life expectancy relative to income?:An analysis of Brazil, Ethiopia, and the United States of America

Background: While in general a country’s life expectancy increases with national income, some countries “punch above their weight”, while some “punch below their weight” – achieving higher or lower life expectancy than would be predicted by their per capita income. Discovering which conditions or policies contribute to this outcome is critical to improving population health globally. Methods: We conducted a mixed-method study which included: analysis of life expectancy relative to income for all countries; an expert opinion study; and scoping reviews of literature and data to examine factors that may impact on life expectancy relative to income in three countries: Ethiopia, Brazil, and the United States. Punching above or below weight status was calculated using life expectancy at birth and gross domestic product per capita for 2014–2018. The scoping reviews covered the political context and history, social determinants of health, civil society, and political participation in each country. Results: Possible drivers identified for Ethiopia’s extra 3 years life expectancy included community-based health strategies, improving access to safe water, female education and gender empowerment, and the rise of civil society organisations. Brazil punched above its weight by 2 years. Possible drivers identified included socio-political and economic improvements, reduced inequality, female education, health care coverage, civil society, and political participation. The United States’ neoliberal economics and limited social security, market-based healthcare, limited public health regulation, weak social safety net, significant increases in income inequality and lower levels of political participation may have contributed to the country punching 2.9 years below weight. Conclusions: The review highlighted potential structural determinants driving differential performance in population health outcomes cross-nationally. These included greater equity, a more inclusive welfare system, high political participation, strong civil society and access to employment, housing, safe water, a clean environment, and education. We recommend research comparing more countries, and also to examine the processes driving within-country inequities. © 2020, The Author(s)

Conhecimento sobre aleitamento materno de puérperas atendidas em dois hospitais de Viçosa, Minas Gerais Knowledge about maternal nursing of mothers attended at two hospitals in the city of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar o conhecimento de puérperas sobre o aleitamento materno. Foram entrevistadas 266 puérperas atendidas em dois hospitais da cidade de Viçosa, MG. A amostra caracterizou-se por mulheres na faixa etária de 13 a 48 anos, das quais 58,3% residiam em Viçosa. A maioria delas tinha o 1º grau incompleto. Segundo a pesquisa, 32,7% das mães receberam informação sobre amamentação antes do parto e 14,3% delas foram orientadas no pré-natal. Apesar de 99,2% das entrevistadas manifestaram a necessidade de a criança ser amamentada, 54,8% não conheciam outra função do leite além da alimentar. A sucção foi lembrada por apenas 1,5% das puérperas como fator que aumenta a produção de leite, e 61,0% delas não conheciam a maneira correta de a criança abocanhar o mamilo. Quanto ao problema do ingurgitamento mamário, 57,0% não sabiam como resolvê-lo. Com relação às leis de proteção à nutriz trabalhadora, 84,6% as desconheciam. Concluiu-se que o baixo nível de conhecimento, por parte das puérperas, sobre questões fundamentais para o sucesso da amamentação reafirmam a importância do incentivo e da orientação para o aleitamento durante o pré-natal.<br>This study had the objective of investigating the mothers knowledge about maternal nursing. Two hundred and sixty-six mothers attended at two hospitals in the city of Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, where interviewed.The sample was characterized by women in the age group from 13 to 48 years old, and 58,3% of them lived in Viçosa. The majority of them had not finished elementary school. From the total of mothers interviewed, 32.7% had received information on breast-feeding before the childbirth, and 14.3% of them were oriented in the prenatal period. Although of 99.2% of the mothers considered that the child should be breastfed, 54.8% did not know another function of milk besides feeding. The suction was remembered by only 1.5% of the mothers as a factor which increases the production of milk, and 61.0% of them did not know the child's correct way to seize the breast nipple with the mouth. Regarding the problem of mammary engorgement, 57.0% did not know how to solve it. Concerning the laws that favor the lactating workers, 84.6% ignored them. The mothers low level of knowledge about fundamental subjects for the breast-feeding success reaffirms the importance of the incentive and of the orientation towards nursing during the prenatal period