Fetal and neonatal deaths of children of patients classified as near miss

Objective:

identify the epidemiological aspects of early fetal and neonatal deaths in children of patients classified with near miss and the factors associated with this outcome.

Method:

a cross-sectional study of 79 women identified with near miss and their newborns. The variables were analyzed using Fisher's exact test. Risk factors were estimated based on unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios, and by means of multiple correspondence analysis, with significance for p <0.05.

Results:

hypertensive disorders totaled 40.5%; Of these, 58.3% had adverse fetal and neonatal outcome. The newborns admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit proved to be significant for the outcome (70.8%), gestational age <32 weeks (41.6%), birth weight <2500 (66.7%), neonatal asphyxia (50%) and early respiratory discomfort (72.2%).

Conclusion:

prematurity, neonatal asphyxia, and early respiratory distress were significant characteristics for the outcome among newborns.

Is adolescent pregnancy a risk factor for low birth weight?

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether adolescent pregnancy is a risk factor for low birth weight (LBW) babies.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of mothers and their newborns from a birth cohort in Aracaju, Northeastern Brazil. Data were collected consecutively from March to July 2005. Information collected included socioeconomic, biological and reproductive aspects of the mothers, using a standardized questionnaire. The impact of early pregnancy on birth weight was evaluated by multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

We studied 4,746 pairs of mothers and their babies. Of these, 20.6% were adolescents (< 20 years of age). Adolescent mothers had worse socioeconomic and reproductive conditions and perinatal outcomes when compared to other age groups. Having no prenatal care and smoking during pregnancy were the risk factors associated with low birth weight. Adolescent pregnancy, when linked to marital status "without partner", was associated with an increased proportion of low birth weight babies.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescence was a risk factor for LBW only for mothers without partners. Smoking during pregnancy and lack of prenatal care were considered to be independent risk factors for LBW.