Changes in infant and neonatal mortality and associated factors in eight cohorts from three Brazilian cities

Stillbirth (SBR), perinatal (PMR), neonatal (NMR) and infant mortality rates (IMR) are declining in Brazil and the factors associated with these falls are still being investigated. The objective of the present study was to assess changes in SBR, PMR, NMR and IMR over time and to determine the factors associated with changes in NMR and IMR in eight Brazilian cohorts. All cohorts are population-based (Ribeirão Preto in 1978/79, 1994 and 2010; Pelotas in 1982, 1993 and 2004; and São Luís in 1997/98 and 2010). Were included data on 41440 children. All indicators were decreased, except in the city of Pelotas, from 1993 to 2004, and except SBR in São Luís. Sociodemographic variables seem to be able to explain reductions of NMR and IMR in Ribeirão Preto, from 1978/79 to 1994, and in São Luís. In Ribeirão Preto, from 1994 to 2010 declines in NMR and IMR seem to be explained by reductions in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Newborn’s gestational age had diminished in all cohorts, preventing even greater reductions of NMR and IMR. Improved sociodemographic variables and reduction of IUGR, seem to be able to explain part of the decrease observed. NMR and IMR could have been reduced even more, were it not for the worsening in gestational age distribution

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

A situação sociodemográfica das crianças e adolescentes na Amazônia

Analisa-se, neste texto, a situação da saúde reprodutiva na Região Norte com base em dados oriundos de varias fontes, principalmente aqueles obtidos através da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde e Reprodução Humana (DHS) atinente aos anos de 1986 e 1996. A autora se detém em aspectos tais como a oferta e produção dos serviços públicos de atendimento à saúde da mulher, anticoncepção, gravidez na adolescência, e mortalidade materna. Em suas conclusões, destaca ser o Norte a região brasileira que apresenta as piores condições de saúde reprodutiva, o que, em grande parte, poderia ser sanado com ação de baixo custo e alta resolubilidade. Em particular, atribui à malária um importante papel como fator de acirramento da mortalidade materna na Região Norte. The text analyses the situation of the reproductive health in North Region. The analysis is based on data collected from several sources but mainly on those obtained through the Human Reproduction and Health National Survey (DHS) for the years 1986 and 1996. The author deals with aspects such as both the supply and the production of public services for women health, conception prevention, adolescent pregnancy and maternal mortality. In her conclusions, she emphasizes that, although North Region presents the worst reproductive health indicators when compared to other Brazilian Regions, such situation could be transformed with the adoption of low-cost ad highly-efficient actions. She also stresses that Malaria is an important cause of the high levels of maternal mortality in North Region

O IBGE e as pesquisas populacionais IBGE and population research

Focaliza-se o histórico dos censos demográficos, do registro civil e da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD), com ênfase nas principais questões investigadas por cada uma dessas pesquisas. Destaca-se o importante papel do Estado no desenvolvimento, principalmente, dos censos demográficos, o que explica seu desenvolvimento mais rápido, enquanto as estatísticas do registro civil ficaram dependentes, em sua fase inicial, das nem sempre estáveis relações entre o Estado e a Igreja. É mostrada a importância crescente dos censos demográficos como instrumento de análise das componentes demográficas, sendo o Censo de 1970 considerado um marco divisório, tanto no que diz respeito à organização, à riqueza de detalhes, como à confiabilidade dos números, destacando-se o papel da sociedade civil, da comunidade acadêmica e dos formuladores de políticas públicas nesse processo. Destaca-se também a Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios, realizada durante os períodos intercensitários, com múltiplos propósitos de investigação, incluindo, com periodicidade variável, características demográficas (migração, fecundidade, nupcialidade) e de saúde.<br>This article studies the history of the demographic censuses in Brazil, as well as civil records and the PNAD (National Survey by Household Sampling), with emphasis on the main issues investigated by each of these instruments. The important role played by the State, especially in the development of the demographic censuses, is taken up, as this factor explains their rapid development. In contrast, during their early stages civil records remained dependent on the not always stable relationships between Church and State. The increasing importance of the demographic censuses as instruments of analysis of demographic factors is gone into. The 1970 census is considered a milestone with respect to its organization, the wealth of details treated, and the reliability of the results. The role of civil society is also highlighted, as well as of the academic community and the formulators of public policies in this process. The PNAD has also played a special role in this process, as it has been carried out between censuses, with multiple investigative purposes, sometimes including demographic characteristics (migration, fertility, marital unions, etc.) and factors related to health

Going to scale with community-based primary care: An analysis of the family health program and infant mortality in Brazil, 1999-2004

This article assesses the effects of an integrated community-based primary care program (Brazil's Family Health Program, known as the PSF) on microregional variations in infant mortality (IMR), neonatal mortality, and post-neonatal mortality rates from 1999 to 2004. The study utilized a pooled cross-sectional ecological analysis using panel data from Brazilian microregions, and controlled for measures of physicians and hospital beds per 1000 population, Hepatitis B coverage, the proportion of women without prenatal care and with no formal education, low birth weight births, population size, and poverty rates. The data covered all the 557 Brazilian microregions over a 6-year period (1999-2004). Results show that IMR declined about 13 percent from 1999 to 2004, while Family Health Program coverage increased from an average of about 14 to nearly 60 percent. Controlling for other health determinants, a 10 percent increase in Family Health Program coverage was associated with a 0.45 percent decrease in IMR, a 0.6 percent decline in post-neonatal mortality, and a 1 percent decline in diarrhea mortality (pPrimary health care Family health program Brazil Health services evaluation Infant mortality

Transição demográfica

Este artigo tem por objetivo principal analisar o papel que a dinâmica demográfica poderá exercer sobre a educação da população brasileira nas próximas décadas, com enfoque nas suas tendências e nas oportunidades que dela decorrem. Para atingir este objetivo, comenta-se brevemente alguns aspectos da transição demográfica e aquilo que alguns estudiosos denominam janela de oportunidades. Em seguida, discute-se a evolução da estrutura etária brasileira, a partir da razão de dependência e suas perspectivas, enfatizando o processo de envelhecimento populacional. Posteriormente, aborda-se a evolução das matrículas e do sistema de educação no Brasil, para então discutir algumas perspectivas de desenvolvimento, tendo em vista a escolaridade