Temporal trends in prevalence and infant mortality of birth defects in Brazil, from 2001 to 2018

Congenital anomalies (CA) are a relevant problem for global public health, affecting about 3% to 6% of newborns worldwide. In Brazil, these are the second main cause of infant mortality. Thus, extensive studies are needed to demonstrate the impact of these anomalies on births and deaths. The present study describes the temporal trends of prevalence and infant mortality due to CA among live births in Brazil and regions, from 2001 to 2018, using the related data between the Live Birth Information System (SINASC, acronym in Portuguese) and the Mortality Information System (SIM, acronym in Portuguese). The prevalence and infant mortality due to CA has increased in Brazil and in most regions, especially in the Northeast and North. CAs in the musculoskeletal system were the most frequent at birth (29.8/10,000 live births), followed by those in the circulatory system (12.7/10,000 live births), which represented the primary cause of death in this group. The applied linkage technique made it possible to correct the national prevalence of CA by 17.9% during the analyzed period, after retrieving the anomalies reported in SIM, thereby proving to be a good tool to improve the quality of information on anomalies in Brazil

Tendência temporal da prevalência e mortalidade infantil das anomalias congênitas no Brasil, de 2001 a 2018

As anomalias congênitas (AC) configuram um relevante problema para a saúde pública global, afetando em média de 3% a 6% dos recém-nascidos em todo o mundo. No Brasil, ocupam a segunda posição entre os principais grupos de causas de óbito infantil. Assim, estudos amplos são necessários para mostrar o impacto das AC na saúde infantil. O presente estudo descreve a tendência temporal da prevalência e da mortalidade infantil por AC entre nascidos vivos (NV) no Brasil e em suas cinco regiões de 2001 a 2018, utilizando dados vinculados entre as bases de dados do Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (SINASC) e do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM). A prevalência e mortalidade infantil por AC mostrou-se crescente no Brasil na maioria das regiões, principalmente no Norte e no Nordeste. Aquelas do aparelho osteomuscular foram as mais prevalentes ao nascimento (29,8/10.000 NV); as do aparelho circulatório passaram para a segunda posição (12,7/10.000 NV) após a vinculação das bases e representam a primeira causa de morte desse grupo. A técnica de vinculação de dados aplicada corrigiu a prevalência nacional das AC em 17,9% no período analisado, após serem recuperadas as AC notificadas no SIM, mostrando ser uma boa ferramenta para melhorar a qualidade das informações das AC

Socioeconomic risk markers of congenital Zika syndrome: a nationwide, registry-based study in Brazil

While it is well known that socioeconomic markers are associated with a higher risk of arbovirus infections, research on the relationship between socioeconomic factors and congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) remains limited. This study investigates the relationship between socioeconomic risk markers and live births with CZS in Brazil. We conducted a population-based study using data from all registered live births in Brazil (Live Births Information System) linked with the Public Health Event Record from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018. We used logistic regression models to estimate the OR and 95% CIs of CZS based on a three-level framework. In an analysis of 11 366 686 live births, of which 3353 had CZS, we observed that live births of self-identified black or mixed race/brown mothers (1.72 (95% CI 1.47 to 2.01) and 1.37 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.51)) were associated with a higher odds of CZS. Live births from single women compared with married women and those from women with less than 12 years of education compared with those with more than 12 years of education also had higher odds of CZS. In addition, live births following fewer prenatal care appointments had increased odds of CZS in the nationwide data. However, in the analyses conducted in the Northeast region (where the microcephaly epidemic started before the link with Zika virus was established and before preventive measures were known or disseminated), no statistical association was found between the number of prenatal care appointments and the odds of CZS. This study shows that live births of the most socially vulnerable women in Brazil had the greatest odds of CZS. This disproportionate distribution of risk places an even greater burden on already socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, and the lifelong disabilities caused by this syndrome may reinforce existing social and health inequalities

Social distancing measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic: potential impacts and challenges in Brazil.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged researchers and policy makers to identify public safety measures forpreventing the collapse of healthcare systems and reducingdeaths. This narrative review summarizes the available evidence on the impact of social distancing measures on the epidemic and discusses the implementation of these measures in Brazil. Articles on the effect of social distancing on COVID-19 were selected from the PubMed, medRXiv and bioRvix databases. Federal and state legislation was analyzed to summarize the strategies implemented in Brazil. Social distancing measures adopted by the population appear effective, particularly when implemented in conjunction with the isolation of cases and quarantining of contacts. Therefore, social distancing measures, and social protection policies to guarantee the sustainability of these measures, should be implemented. To control COVID-19 in Brazil, it is also crucial that epidemiological monitoring is strengthened at all three levels of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS). This includes evaluating and usingsupplementary indicators to monitor the progression of the pandemic and the effect of the control measures, increasing testing capacity, and making disaggregated notificationsand testing resultstransparentand broadly available