Practice of exclusive breastfeeding and its associated factors in a suburban area in Angola : a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding for six months is one of the measures with highest impact on prevention of child deaths. The determinants of breastfeeding practices are complex and differ between populations. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in a suburban area in Angola. DESIGN AND SETTING: Population-based cross-sectional study in the municipality of Cacuaco, Luanda. METHODS: A random sample of children under two years of age and their mothers was included. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated using Poisson regression based on a hierarchical model. RESULTS: 749 children and their mothers were surveyed, including 274 children under six months. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among children under six months was 51.5% (95% confidence interval, CI, 46.3-56.6%). Four variables were positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding at ages of under six months: number of prenatal visits (PR 1.11 for each visit after the first one; 95% CI 1.04-1.18), maternal occupation (other occupations versus self-employed) (PR 1.54; 95% CI 1.05-2.26), younger child age (PR 0.77 for each month; 95% CI 0.71-0.84) and female child (PR 1.34; 95% CI 1.02-1.76). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at six months was satisfactory, according to international recommendations. Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practices that had never been surveyed before in Angola were identified through this study. These data are particularly relevant in the context of high infant mortality and may be useful in planning actions aimed at improving child health through promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, in Angola and other countries

Clinical research challenges in rare genetic diseases in Brazil

Rare diseases are defined as conditions with a prevalence of no more than 6.5 per 10,000 people. Although each rare disease individually affects a small number of people, collectively, the 6,000 to 8,000 rare conditions (80% of them with genetic cause) affect around 8% of the world’s population. Research about the natural history and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of rare diseases, as well as clinical trials with new drugs, are important and necessary to develop new strategies for the treatment of these conditions. This report describes the experience of a clinical research group working with rare diseases in a reference center for lysosomal diseases in Brazil (Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre). The activities of this research group enabled its participation in several international multicenter clinical research protocols related to the natural history or therapy development for rare genetic diseases. This participation has allowed the development of personal skills and institutional facilities for clinical research. The clinical research developed in our center has raised the quality of the medical assistance provided to non-clinical research patients in addition to enabling early access to new therapies to many patients with orphan conditions

Error Bounds on a Mixed Entropy Inequality

Motivated by the entropy computations relevant to the evaluation of decrease in entropy in bit reset operations, the authors investigate the deficit in an entropic inequality involving two independent random variables, one continuous and the other discrete. In the case where the continuous random variable is Gaussian, we derive strong quantitative bounds on the deficit in the inequality. More explicitly it is shown that the decay of the deficit is sub-Gaussian with respect to the reciprocal of the standard deviation of the Gaussian variable. What is more, up to rational terms these results are shown to be sharp

Análisis de los registros de atención a mujeres que abortaron según lo previsto en la ley en Porto Alegre, Río Grande do Sul, Brasil

O aborto permitido por lei no Brasil é um direito pouco garantido devido a múltiplas barreiras de acesso. A dificuldade em obter-se registros confiáveis e de fácil acesso, que subsidiem ações de monitoramento e avaliação pertinentes a essa temática, é outra questão preocupante relacionada à organização do sistema de saúde. Assim, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar os registros de atendimentos a mulheres que realizaram aborto legal no Município de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, no período de 2013 a 2018 e identificar sua prevalência no Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH). Para isso, os prontuários dos casos de aborto previstos em lei, realizados nos quatro serviços de referência foram avaliados in loco. Os dados obtidos foram cruzados com o banco do SIH do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). A razão de prevalência foi estimada por meio do modelo de regressão Poisson, com variância robusta. Foram identificados, nos prontuários, 236 casos de aborto legal, dos quais 95 (40,3%) estavam registrados no SIH. Os casos cujos prontuários tinham o CID O04 (aborto por razões médicas) identificado em seus registros internos tiveram uma prevalência de 3,02 (IC95%: 1,83-4,98) vezes de constarem no SIH do que aqueles que não identificaram. Foi observado que o número de registros de aborto legal no SIH diferia dependendo do hospital; no entanto, verificou-se que, independentemente do hospital, o fato do registro interno descrever o CID O04 aumenta a prevalência de registros no SIH. Conclui-se que a falta de padronização e o sub-registro dificultam a obtenção de informações fidedignas na base de dados nacionais do SUS, aumentando a invisibilidade do aborto legal.Abortion as allowed by law in Brazil is a right that is rarely enforced, due to the multiple barriers to access. Another troublesome issue related to the health system’s organization is the difficulty in obtaining reliable and easily accessible records to back monitoring and evaluation of legally authorized abortion. The current study thus aimed to analyze the patient records of women that had undergone legal abortion in the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, from 2013 to 2018 and to identify the procedure’s prevalence in the Hospital Information System (SIH). The study analyzed on site the patient files for legally permitted abortions performed in the four referral services in the city. The authors cross-analyzed the data with the database of the SIH under the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS). Prevalence ratio was estimated with a Poisson regression model with robust variance. Examination of the patient files identified 236 cases of legal abortion, of which 95 (40.3%) were recorded in the SIH. The cases in which the patient files contained ICD O04 (medical abortion) identified in their internal records had 3.02 times higher prevalence (95%CI: 1.83-4.98) of being recorded in the SIH than those without the ICD code. The number of records of legal abortions in the SIH differed according to the hospital. However, independently of the hospital, the fact that the internal record listed ICD O04 increased the prevalence of records in the SIH. In conclusion, the lack of standardization and underrecording hindered the collection of trustworthy information in the national database of the SUS, further increasing the invisibility of legal abortion in Brazil.El aborto está permitido por ley en Brasil, aunque es un derecho poco garantizado, debido a múltiples barreras de acceso. La dificultad de conseguir registros confiables y de fácil acceso, que apoyen acciones de supervisión y evaluación pertinentes para esta temática, es otra cuestión preocupante relacionada con la organización del sistema de salud. De este modo, el objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar los registros de atención a mujeres, que abortaron legalmente en el Municipio de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, durante el período de 2013 a 2018 e identificar su prevalencia en el Sistema de Informaciones Hospitalarias (SIH). Para tal fin, se evaluaron in loco los historiales de los casos de aborto previstos en ley, efectuados en cuatro servicios de referencia. Los datos obtenidos se cruzaron con el banco de datos del SIH del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS). La razón de prevalencia se estimó mediante el modelo de regresión Poisson con variancia robusta. Se identificaron en los registros médicos, 236 casos de aborto legal, de los cuales 95 (40,3%) estaban registrados en el SIH. Los casos cuyos historiales tenían el CIE O04 (aborto por razones médicas), identificado en sus registros internos, contaron con una prevalencia de 3,02 veces (IC95%: 1,83-4,98) respecto a constar en el SIH, en relación con aquellos que no se identificaron. Se observó que el número de registros de aborto legal en el SIH difería dependiendo del hospital; no obstante, se verificó que, independientemente del hospital, el hecho de que el registro interno describa el CIE O04 aumenta la prevalencia de registros en el SIH. Se concluye que la falta de estandarización y el subregistro dificultan la obtención de información fidedigna en la base de datos nacionales del SUS, aumentando la invisibilidad del aborto legal

Morquio-like dysostosis multiplex presenting with neuronopathic features is a distinct GLB1-related phenotype

Background Morquio B disease (MBD) is a distinct GLB1-related dysostosis multiplex presenting a mild phenocopy of GALNS-related Morquio A disease. Previously reported cases from European countries carry the W273L variant on at least one GLB1 allele and exhibit a pure skeletal phenotype (pure MBD). Only a minority of MBD cases have been described with additional neuronopathic findings (MBD plus). Objectives and Methods With the aim to further describe patterns of MBD-related dysostosis multiplex, we analyzed clinical, biochemical, and genetic features in 17 cases with GLB1-related dysostosis multiplex living and diagnosed in Brazil. Results About 14 of the 17 individuals had three or more skeletal findings characteristic of Morquio syndrome. Two had no additional neuronopathic features (pure MBD) and 12 exhibited additional neuronopathic features (MBD plus). Three of the 17 cases had mild dysostosis without distinct features of MBD. Seven of the 12 MBD plus patients had signs of spinal cord compression (SCC), as a result of progressive spinal vertebral dysostosis. There was an age-dependent increase in the number of skeletal findings and in the severity of growth impairment. GLB1 mutation analysis was completed in 10 of the 14 MBD patients. T500A occurred in compound heterozygosity in 8 of the 19 alleles. Conclusion Our study extends the phenotypic spectrum of GLB1-related conditions by describing a cohort of patients with MBD and GM1-gangliosidosis (MBD plus). Targeting the progressive nature of the skeletal manifestations in the development of new therapies for GLB1-related conditions is warranted

Maternal outcomes and risk factors for COVID-19 severity among pregnant women

Pregnant women may be at higher risk of severe complications associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which may lead to obstetrical complications. We performed a case control study comparing pregnant women with severe coronavirus disease 19 (cases) to pregnant women with a milder form (controls) enrolled in the COVI-Preg international registry cohort between March 24 and July 26, 2020. Risk factors for severity, obstetrical and immediate neonatal outcomes were assessed. A total of 926 pregnant women with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 were included, among which 92 (9.9%) presented with severe COVID-19 disease. Risk factors for severe maternal outcomes were pulmonary comorbidities [aOR 4.3, 95% CI 1.9–9.5], hypertensive disorders [aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.0–7.0] and diabetes [aOR2.2, 95% CI 1.1–4.5]. Pregnant women with severe maternal outcomes were at higher risk of caesarean section [70.7% (n = 53/75)], preterm delivery [62.7% (n = 32/51)] and newborns requiring admission to the neonatal intensive care unit [41.3% (n = 31/75)]. In this study, several risk factors for developing severe complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant women were identified including pulmonary comorbidities, hypertensive disorders and diabetes. Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes appear to be influenced by the severity of maternal disease

Factors associated with breastfeeding continuation for 12 months or more among working mothers in a general hospital

O objetivo deste estudo é identificar fatores associados à continuidade da amamentação por 12 meses ou mais em mulheres trabalhadoras. Estudo transversal realizado por meio de entrevista com 251 trabalhadoras de um hospital, com filhos biológicos entre 12 e 36 meses de idade, não gemelares e sem doença que afetasse a amamentação, e amamentando quando do seu retorno ao trabalho. Para a associação entre a continuidade da amamentação e as variáveis de exposição utilizou-se a regressão multivariável de Poisson. Apenas uma variável relacionada ao local de trabalho da mulher mostrou associação significativa com o desfecho. Trabalhar durante o dia aumentou em 37% a prevalência da amamentação por 12 meses ou mais. Os fatores não relacionados ao trabalho da mulher que mostraram associação positiva com o desfecho: mãe sem curso superior, experiência de amamentação superior a 12 meses; criança não receber outro leite quando a mãe retornou ao trabalho e não ter usado chupeta. Por outro lado, maior idade da mãe, maior idade gestacional, apoio do cuidador da criança e apoio profissional na amamentação associaram-se negativamente ao desfecho. Fatores não relacionados diretamente ao trabalho materno tiveram maior participação na continuidade da amamentação por 12 meses ou mais.This article aims to identify factors associated with breastfeeding continuation for at least 12 months among working mothers in a hospital in the south of Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional study, interviewing 251 women who breastfed after returning to work. Eligibility criteria included non-twin biological children aged between 12 and 36 months and the absence of an illness (mother and/or child) that could affect breastfeeding. The association between breastfeeding continuation and the exposure variables was tested using Poisson multivariate regression. Only one work-related variable showed a significant association with the outcome. Working only during the day increased the prevalence of BF continuation for at least 12 months by 37%. The following non-work-related factors showed a positive association with the outcome: mothers without a college degree; mothers with at least 12 months’ prior breastfeeding experience; child not given milks other than breast milk when the mother returned to work, and not using a pacifier. The following variables showed a negative association with the outcome: older maternal age; older gestational age; mother receiving support from the child’s caregiver; and mother receiving professional breastfeeding support. Non-work-related factors had a greater influence on breastfeeding continuation for at least 12 months among working mothers