Prepregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, and birth weight in the BRISA cohort

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy on the baby’s birth weight. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 5,024 mothers and their newborns using a Brazilian birth cohort study. In the proposed model, estimated by structural equation modeling, we tested socioeconomic status, age, marital status, pre-pregnancy body mass index, smoking habit and alcohol consumption during pregnancy, hypertension and gestational diabetes, gestational weight gain, and type of delivery as determinants of the baby’s birth weight. RESULTS: For a gain of 4 kg/m2 (1 Standard Deviation [SD]) in pre-pregnancy body mass index, there was a 0.126 SD increase in birth weight, corresponding to 68 grams (p < 0.001). A 6 kg increase (1 SD) in gestational weight gain represented a 0.280 SD increase in newborn weight, correponding to 151.2 grams (p < 0.001). The positive effect of pre-pregnancy body mass index on birth weight was direct (standardized coefficient [SC] = 0.202; p < 0.001), but the negative indirect effect was small (SC = -0.076, p < 0.001) and partially mediated by the lower weight gain during pregnancy (SC = -0.070, p < 0.001). The positive effect of weight gain during pregnany on birth weight was predominantly direct (SC = 0.269, p < 0.001), with a small indirect effect of cesarean delivery (SC = 0.011; p < 0.001). Women with a higher pre-pregnancy body mass index gained less weight during pregnancy (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of gestational weight gain on the increase in birth weight was greater than that of pre-pregnancy body mass index

Psychological violence against pregnant women in a prenatal care cohort: rates and associated factors in São Luís, Brazil

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Violence against pregnant women has been associated with gestational and perinatal disorders. Psychological violence is the type least investigated and its associated factors have been little studied. The present study was conducted in order to estimate prevalence rates and analyze the factors associated with exclusive and recurrent psychological violence in the municipality of São Luís, Brazil.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud Data regarding 982 pregnant women, aged from 14 to 45 years, interviewed in 2010 and 2011 in a prenatal cohort were used. A self-applied questionnaire was used to screen for violence. Pregnant women submitted to physical and sexual violence were excluded from the analysis of factors associated with exclusive psychological violence. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by a Poisson regression model with a hierarchical approach at three levels. At level 1 of the theoretical-conceptual model, we analyzed demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and variables that express gender inequalities; at level 2, we analyzed social support received by the women, and at level 3, the life experiences of the pregnant women.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud Prevalence rate of exclusive psychological violence was 41.6% and of recurrent violence was 32.6%. Exclusive psychological violence was associated with pregnant women’s age of 14 to 18 years (PR: 1.32 95% CI: 1.04 – 1.70), pregnant women’s schooling superior to that of her intimate partner (PR: 1.54 95% CI: 1.09 – 2.16), inadequate social affective support/positive social interaction (PR: 1.34 95% CI: 1.11 – 1.62), use of illicit drugs by the pregnant women (PR: 1.80 95% CI: 1.16 – 2.81) and having had six or more intimate partners in life (PR: 1.52 95% CI: 1.18 – 1.96). Recurrent exclusive psychological violence was associated with inadequate social affective support/positive social interaction (PR: 1.47 95% CI: 1.15 – 1.87), use of illicit drugs by the pregnant women (PR: 2,28 95% CI: 1,40 - 3,71) and having had six or more intimate partners in life (PR: 1.47 95% CI: 1.06 – 2.03).\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud Psychological violence was a common phenomenon in this population of pregnant women that was associated with gender inequalities, inadequate social support and illicit drug use and should be routinely investigated during prenatal visits at health care services.This Research was supported by the Health Ministry,\ud CNPq (Portuguese acronym for the National Research Council), FAPESP\ud (Portuguese acronym for the São Paulo State Research Foundation), and\ud FAPEMA (Portuguese acronym for the Maranhão State Research Foundation)

NASCIMENTO PRÉ-TERMO: problema de Saúde Pública sobre o qual muito se fala e pouco se pesquisa e se previne no Brasil

Nascimento pré-termo enquanto problema de Saúde Pública sobre o qual muito se fala em serviços de Obstetrícia e Pediatria e pouco se pesquisa e se previne no Brasil. Este artigo discute as principais razões para o nascimento prétermo ser considerado problema de Saúde Pública e os principais entraves para estabelecer as suas taxas e compreender como atuam seus determinantes, a fim de que projetos e programas de prevenção possam ser eficazes e eficientes. É a principal causa de mortalidades neonatal e infantil no mundo. Estudos mostram tendência de aumentos das taxas em municípios brasileiros. Ocasiona morbidades que podem persistir ao longo da vida. Há limitações quanto às estimativas de taxas, ao conhecimento sobre como atuam os seus determinantes, ao ônus para famílias e Estado e à prevenção do nascimento pré-termo. É consequência de uma complexa rede de percursos causais.Palavras-chave: Recém-nascido de baixo peso, nascimento prematuro, prematuro, Políticas Públicas de Saúde, trabalho de parto prematuro.PRETERM BIRTH: Public Health problems about which much is spoken and little is researched and prevented in Brazil Abstract: Preterm birth is a Public Health problem about which much is said in Obstetrics and Pediatrics services and little is researched and prevented considering this health problem in Brazil. This article debates the main reasons for preterm birth to be considered a Public Health problem and the main issues for establishing its rates and understanding how its determinants operate, in order that projects and programs about prevention may be effective and efficient. It is the main cause of neonatal and child mortality in the world. There are studies showing trends of increasing rates of preterm birth in Brazilian municipalities. It causes morbidities that may persist throughout life. There are limitations regarding: rate estimates, knowledge about how its determinants operate, cost to the families and for the State and prevention of preterm birth. Preterm birth is a complex consequence of causal courses. It is of most urgency to improve prenatal care for women at risk.Keywords: Infant, low birth weight, premature birth infant, premature. Health Public Policies, obstetric labor

Congenital Zika syndrome: association between the gestational trimester of maternal infection, severity of brain computed tomography findings and microcephaly at birth

This study analyzed possible associations between the trimester of maternal Zika virus infection (ZIKV) in pregnancy, severity of brain computed tomography (CT) findings and the presence of microcephaly at birth in children with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). It was an analytical study in a cohort of children with CZS. Symptoms of maternal infection were dichotomized into the 1st trimester of pregnancy and other trimesters. Head circumference (HC) at birth was used to calculate the z-score. Mild microcephaly was defined as HC between 2 and ≥3 standard deviations (SD) below the mean for each gestational age and sex, and severe microcephaly when HC <3 SD below average. Brain CT images were evaluated by two radiologists and classified, according to the severity, into mild, moderate and severe. Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to verify the associations between variables. In 108 children, maternal infection in the 1st trimester of pregnancy was associated with more severe brain CT abnormalities (p=0.038), greater severity of microcephaly at birth (p=0.013) and lower HC z-scores at birth (p=0.021). The severity of brain CT lesions was also associated with lower HC z-scores at birth (p<0.001). Maternal ZIKV infection during the first trimester of pregnancy proved to be an important risk factor for a more severe spectrum of CZS, as it is associated with more severe brain CT abnormalities and, consequently, with lower HC z-scores at birth

Sintomas depressivos na infância interferem na inteligência na idade adulta?

OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos dos sintomas depressivos na infância no desenvolvimento intelectual do adulto jovem. MÉTODOS: Estudo realizado com uma coorte de nascimentos de São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil, composta por 339 participantes avaliados entre 7 e 9 anos e entre 18 e 19 anos. Utilizou-se modelagem de equações estruturais (escolaridade do adulto jovem, sexo, raça/cor) e variáveis da infância (estado nutricional, sintomas depressivos, função cognitiva, escolaridade do chefe da família e da mãe, renda familiar). Além disso, ocupação do chefe da família, idade da mãe e presença de companheiro foram testadas como determinantes do quociente de inteligência (QI) dos adultos. RESULTADOS: A presença de sintomas depressivos na infância gerou redução de 0,342 no desvio-padrão (DP) e -3,83 pontos no QI médio dos adultos (valor de p < 0,001). A função cognitiva na infância apresentou efeito total e direto positivo (coeficiente padronizado [CP] = 0,701; valor de p < 0,001) sobre o QI, elevando 7,84 pontos a cada aumento do nível. Identificou-se efeito indireto positivo do estado nutricional infantil (CP = 0,194; valor de p = 0,045), escolaridade do chefe da família (CP = 0,162; valor de p = 0,036) e da mãe da criança, este último mediado pela função cognitiva na infância (CP = 0,215; valor de p = 0,012) sobre o QI dos jovens. CONCLUSÃO: A presença de sintomas depressivos na infância gerou efeito negativo de longo prazo sobre a inteligência, reduzindo a pontuação do QI na idade adulta.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of depressive symptoms in childhood on the intellectual development of young adults. METHODS: Study conducted with a birth cohort of São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, composed of 339 participants evaluated between 7 and 9 years and between 18 and 19 years. Structural equation modeling (young adult education, sex, race/color) and childhood variables (nutritional status, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, head of household’s and mother’s education, family income) were used. In addition, head of household’s occupation, mother’s age, and presence of partner were tested as determinants of adults’ intelligence quotient (IQ). RESULTS: Presence of depressive symptoms in childhood triggered a reduction of 0.342 in standard deviation (SD) and -3.83 points in the average IQ of adults (p-value < 0.001). Cognitive function in childhood had a total and direct positive effect (standardized coefficient [SC] = 0.701; p-value < 0.001) on IQ, increasing 7.84 points with each increase in level. A positive indirect effect of child nutritional status (SC = 0.194; p-value = 0.045), head of household’s (SC = 0.162; p-value = 0.036), and mother’s education was identified, the latter mediated by cognitive function in childhood (SC = 0.215; p-value = 0.012) on the IQ of young people. CONCLUSION: Presence of depressive symptoms in childhood triggered a long-term negative effect on intelligence, reducing the IQ score in adulthood

Violence and depressive symptoms during pregnancy in BRISA cohort: using structural equation modeling approach

Abstract Objectives: to analyze associations among violence against pregnant women, depressive symptoms during pregnancy and maternal depression symptoms. Methods: a sample of 1,139 mothers was conducted on a prenatal cohort study in the municipality of São Luís in Brazil. Psychological and physical violence against pregnant women were measured by the World Health Organization Violence Against Woman. Depressive symptoms during pregnancy were measured by the Escala de Depressão do Centro de Estudos Epidemiológicos (CES-D) (Depression Scale for Epidemiological Studies Center) and maternal depression symptoms were measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The conceptual model of the structural equation modeling contained socioeconomic situation, social support, psychological and physical violence and depression during pregnancy as determinants of the maternal depression symptoms. Results: maternal depression symptoms were more frequently reported by pregnant women who suffered psychological violence (Standardized Coefficient, SC=0.256; p-value, p<0.001), physical violence (SC=0.221 p<0.001) and those who presented depressive symptoms during pregnancy SC=0.322, p<0.001). Depressive symptoms during pregnancy mediated the effects on physical and psychological violence on maternal depression. Conclusions: pregnant women who were submitted to psychological and physical violence and presented depressive symptoms during pregnancy frequently reported more of having maternal depression symptoms

Maternal socioeconomic factors and adverse perinatal outcomes in two birth cohorts, 1997/98 and 2010, in São Luís, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Several studies have identified social inequalities in low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which, in recent years, have diminished or disappeared in certain locations. Objectives: Estimate the LBW, PTB, and IUGR rates in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, in 2010, and check for associations between socioeconomic factors and these indicators. Methods: This study is based on a birth cohort performed in São Luís. It included 5,051 singleton hospital births in 2010. The chi-square test was used for proportion comparisons, while simple and multiple Poisson regression models with robust error variance were used to estimate relative risks. Results: LBW, PTB and IUGR rates were 7.5, 12.2, and 10.3% respectively. LBW was higher in low-income families, while PTB and IUGR were not associated with socioeconomic factors. Conclusion: The absence or weak association of these indicators with social inequality point to improvements in health care and/or in social conditions in São Luís