Do childhood depressive symptoms interfere with intelligence in adulthood?

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.

Modifiable behavioral risk factors for NCDs and sleep in Brazilian adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between modifiable behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases and sleep parameters in Brazilian adolescents.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study that used data from the RPS Cohort Consortium, São Luís, Brazil for the follow-up of adolescents aged 18-19 years (n = 2,515). The outcomes were excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale - ESS) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI). The exposures of interest were the behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs): screen time, physical inactivity, alcohol, smoking, illicit drugs, caffeine intake, and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Excess weight was considered a possible mediator of this association between the exposures of interest and the outcomes. The models were analyzed by modeling with structural equations.

RESULTS

Physical inactivity (standardized coefficient, SC = 0.112; p = 0.001), higher consumption of alcohol (SC = 0.168; p = 0.019) and of sugar-sweetened beverages (SC = 0.128; p < 0.001) were associated with excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents; better socioeconomic status was also associated with this outcome (SC = 0.128; p < 0.001). Physical inactivity (SC = 0.147; p < 0.001) and higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SC = 0.089; p = 0.003) were also associated with poor sleep quality. Overweight was neither a mediator nor associated with sleep quality or excessive daytime sleepiness.

CONCLUSIONS

The main modifiable behavioral risk factors for NCDs are associated with worse sleep parameters already in adolescence, which serves as a warning toward the accumulation of risks for sleep disorders in the future.

Assessment of the Brazilian Version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale Using Item Response Theory: A Psychometric Study

There seems to be a consensus that adolescents worldwide are not getting enough sleep. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) in adolescents using the item response theory. A psychometric study was conducted with 2206 adolescents aged 18 and 19 years in the city of São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The dimensionality of the ESS was assessed by principal component analysis. A Samejima's graded response model (SGRM) was fitted to it. The findings of this study showed a good internal consistency and the unidimensionality of the ESS. Considering the latent trait continuum, we obtained three levels, with anchor items. For the item 'Sitting still in a public place', the adolescents presented a small possibility of dozing in level 1, and a medium and great possibility in level 2. The item 'Sitting around talking to someone' presented small, medium, and great possibilities of dozing in level 3. The ESS with five items showed satisfactory psychometric properties. In addition, the results from the SGRM showed that adolescents with high levels of sleepiness are likely to nod off or sleep sitting up while talking to someone. This study allows us to understand excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents.

RANTES and developmental defects of enamel in children: A Brazilian prenatal cohort (BRISA)

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about the effect of maternal immunological factors on the etiology of developmental defects of enamel (DDE). RANTES (Regulated on Activation Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted) is a chemokine produced by fibroblasts, lymphoid and epithelial mucosa cells in response to various external stimuli. Despite its importance for embryogenesis, RANTES expression has been demonstrated in multiple diseases characterized by inflammation, tumor and immune response, and wound healing. We hypothesized that altered levels of RANTES during pregnancy are associated with the immune and inflammatory response in women, which could lead to the occurrence of DDE in utero (DDE-iu), directly or mediated by preterm birth. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of serum levels of RANTES in pregnant women in the occurrence of DDE-iu in children.

METHODS

This is a longitudinal case-control study. The mothers and their children (327) were evaluated in three moments: prenatal care, post childbirth, and when the child was between 12.3 and 36 months of age. The analysis was performed with structural equation modeling, estimating the standardized coefficient (SC), adopting α = 5%.

RESULTS

There was a direct and negative effect of RANTES on the outcome (SC = -0.137; p = 0.022). This association was not mediated by preterm birth (SC = 0.007; P = 0.551). When considering the specific types of DDE-iu, RANTES had a direct effect on hypoplasia (SC = -0.190; p = 0.007), but not on opacity (SC = 0.343; p = 0.074).

CONCLUSION

Lower serum levels of RANTES may contribute to a higher number of teeth with DDE-iu, specifically hypoplasia. However, more evidence supported by clinical, laboratory and epidemiological studies is still needed.

Vertical transmission of HIV to neonates in a reference hospital in Northeastern Brazil from 2013 to 2017

The aim of this study was to estimate the rate of Mother-to-child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV to neonates in a reference university hospital in Sao Luis city, the capital of Maranhao State (MA), evaluating MTCT-associated factors. A retrospective cohort study based on data from the Notifiable Diseases Data System (SINAN) was carried out and included all HIV-exposed neonates notified from 2013 to 2017 by the university hospital. The study population comprised 725 HIV-exposed neonates, of whom 672 neonates were exposed and uninfected, and 53 were exposed and infected. The estimated rate of MTCT in the period of 2013 to 2017 was 7.3%. Most pregnant women were ≥ 20 years old (86.9%), reported ≥ 8 years of schooling (53.2%), reported full-time or independent paid work (46.9%) and were residents in other cities of the state (61.7%). Regarding healthcare, 86.3% received prenatal care, 74.6% received Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) as prophylaxis during pregnancy, 81.8% received ART prophylaxis during childbirth and 78.1% underwent cesarean section. Among the neonates, 92.8% received ART prophylaxis and 94.3% were not breastfed. Despite these variables, the 7.3% MTCT rate found in this study makes it clear that the interventions recommended by the Ministry of Health were not fully adopted.

Sleep characteristics and excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents and adults: results from the birth cohorts of three Brazilian cities - RPS Consortium

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence of insufficient sleep duration, long sleep latency, terminal or maintenance insomnia, subjective sleep quality, and excessive daytime sleepiness among participants of birth cohorts conducted in three Brazilian cities, and to evaluate differences in prevalence rates within cohorts according to sociodemographic characteristics.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analyses involving adolescents and adults participating in four birth cohorts conducted in Ribeirão Preto (RP78 and RP94), Pelotas (PEL93) and São Luís (SL97/98). Sleep duration, latency, terminal or maintenance insomnia, and subjective sleep quality were obtained through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; and excessive daytime sleepiness was assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Differences in the prevalence of the outcomes were analyzed in each cohort according to sociodemographic characteristics (skin color, marital status, socioeconomic status, study and working at the time of the interview) stratified by sex.

RESULTS

Insufficient sleep duration was the most common outcome at the four cohorts, with higher frequency among men. Long latency was more frequently reported by young adult women in RP94 and PEL93 cohorts, and insomnia by women of the four cohorts, when compared to men of the same age. Women generally suffered more from excessive daytime sleepiness and evaluated the quality of their sleep more negatively than men. In addition to sex, being a student and working were associated with the largest number of outcomes in both sexes.

CONCLUSION

Sleep disorders are more prevalent in women, reinforcing the need for greater investment in sleep health in Brazil, without disregarding gender and socioeconomic determinants.

Prenatal care and human rights: Addressing the gap between medical and legal frameworks and the experience of women in Brazil

Access to quality and affordable healthcare is central to the fulfilment of women's reproductive and sexual health needs and rights. For this reason, the World Health Organization declared access to appropriate healthcare services during pregnancy and childbirth a fundamental women's right. Prenatal care is a recognized human right to women's health in Brazil, as declared by the 1988 Constitution and many Brazilian policies. However, implementing the rights to health in Brazil presents a fundamental performance gap between legal rights and their delivery concerning reproductive health. Through extensive fieldwork including focus groups, interviews with women and participate observation in two municipalities in northeastern Brazil, this article addresses these issues and explores women's lived experience of access to and their fulfilment of the right to health regarding prenatal healthcare. We offer and account of the experience of women regarding what they identified as barriers that trample their right to health, that is: a) limited personnel and medical equipment as a perception of neglect; b) timely delivery of services: time matters for perception and experience of rights; c) misinformation as a barrier to the exercise of health rights; and d) socioeconomic barriers. These barriers particularly affect the right of women in rural communities, with lower socioeconomic levels and education, as well as brown and black women, from an intersectionality perspective, who are already at greater health risk and inadequate prenatal care. As such, we argue there is a performance gap between what the normative and legal frameworks encourage the health system to do and what the system actually provides in terms of access, equality, respect and continuity of treatment amongst certain groups in society whose right to health are denied while their health risks increase.

Association between violence and depression during pregnancy with perinatal outcomes: a moderated mediation analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the direct, indirect, and total effects of violence during pregnancy on perinatal outcomes, and to evaluate the effect of violence as a moderator of the mediated relationship of depression with perinatal outcomes.

METHODS

Data was collected from the prenatal study and follow-ups of the BRISA cohort, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The perinatal outcomes investigated were: birth weight (BW), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and gestational age (GA). Violence against women was evaluated using the World Health Organization Violence against Women instrument (Violence during pregnancy - regardless of the type of violence; Physical violence during pregnancy; Psychological violence during pregnancy). Depressive symptoms during pregnancy were evaluated as a mediating variable. Moderated mediation analysis was performed to estimate the effects of violence and depression on perinatal outcomes.

RESULTS

Three types of violence analyzed by depression had an indirect effect in BW and GA. None of the types of violence showed an association with IUGR. All types of violence analyzed showed a moderated mediation effect with BW and GA. Only among women who experienced violence were birth weight and gestational age lower the higher the values of depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Violence and depression are only associated with lower BW and GA when they occur simultaneously.

The consumption of culinary preparations and ultra-processed food is associated with handgrip strength in teenagers

Background

A nutrient-poor and hypocaloric diet may be associated with lower handgrip strength (HGS), whereas a high-quality or balanced diet may be associated with higher HGS. However, no study has used the NOVA system for classifying food by their degree of processing.

Objective

To analyze the association between food consumption according to the degree of food processing and HGS in Brazilian teenagers.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included teenagers aged 18 and 19 years old from the 1997/98 São Luís’ birth cohort, Maranhão, Brazil. HGS (kilogram-force) was measured via a Jamar Plus + dynamometer. Food consumption was assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The energy intake of culinary preparations (unprocessed or minimally processed food and processed culinary ingredients), processed, and ultra-processed foods was evaluated in percentages and categorized in tertiles. The associations between each food group intake and HGS was estimated via crude and adjusted linear regression models. A directed acyclic graph was used to identify confounding factors.

Results

We evaluated 2,433 teenagers, 52.1% of which were girls. For boys, adjusted analysis showed an association between the highest HGS and the 3^rd tertile of culinary preparation consumption (β: 1.95; 95%CI: 0.80; 3.10) and between the lowest HGS and the 3^rd tertile of ultra-processed food consumption (β: -2.25; 95%CI: -3.40; -1.10). Among girls, the consumption of culinary preparations in the 3^rd tertile was associated with higher HGS (β: 0.76; 95%CI: 0.05; 1.46).

Conclusions

Higher consumption of culinary preparations and lower consumption of ultra-processed foods can contribute to reduce the chance of lower HGS in adult life. Interventions to promote the development and preservation of muscle strength should include dietary recommendations.

Physical activity in birth cohorts of three Brazilian cities (Ribeirão Preto, Pelotas, and São Luís): A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence of physical activity among subjects from birth cohorts of three cities located in different regions of Brazil according to sociodemographic characteristics and sex, comparing the relationships within and between cohorts.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study involving 12,724 adolescents and young adults who participated in five birth cohorts: Ribeirão Preto [1978/79 (37/39 years old in 2016) and 1994 (22 years in 2016)]; Pelotas [1982 (30 years in 2012) and 1993 (22 years in 2015)], and São Luís [1997/98 (18/19 years in 2016)]. Leisure-time physical activity was evaluated with questionnaires (insufficiently active: <150 min/week and active: ≥150 min/week) and moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was objectively measured by accelerometry. Those, in each city, were evaluated accordingly to skin color, socioeconomic classification, and study/work activities.

RESULTS

The prevalence of leisure-time physical activity ranged from 29.2% at 30 years old in Pelotas to 54.6% among adolescents from São Luís. The prevalence of leisure-time physical activity was higher among younger people (54.6% in São Luís 1997), while the same was not observed for total physical activity. MVPA (3rd tercile) was higher in the cohorts from Pelotas and São Luís. The prevalence of leisure-time physical activity and MVPA was higher in men. The data showed that the variation in physical activity was associated with sex and sociodemographic conditions in all cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Sociodemographic characteristics should be considered when promoting leisure-time physical activity and actions aimed at young people, and adults who are more socioeconomically vulnerable should be encouraged.

Association between sleep duration and cardiometabolic factors in adolescents

Background

The sleep reduction can change healthy people's hemodynamic control and cardiovascular regulation through increased inflammatory response and altered endothelial function. The objective the study to analyze the association between sleep duration and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents in the birth cohort of São Luís (1997/98).

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study with adolescents participating in the birth cohort of São Luís (1997/98). Sleep duration was evaluated using accelerometer data (Actigraph wGT3X-BT). Glycemia, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and triglycerides were considered cardiometabolic factors. The Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) was used to identify the minimum set of adjustment for confounding.

Results

Out of 1,268 adolescents, 50.3% of them were male. The prevalence of sleep duration of less than 6 h per day was 31.1%. The mean glycemia value was 91.8 mg/dL (± 15.9), DBP was 71.3 mmHg (± 7.5), SBP was 114.9 mmHg (± 12.3), HDL was 48.5 mg/dL (± 11.6), LDL was 89.0 mg/dL (± 25.7), the total cholesterol was 156.0 mg/dL (± 31.1), and triglycerides was 93.6 mg/dL (± 47.2). The crude analysis showed an association between sleep duration and SBP and LDL-c. In the adjusted analysis, the associations did not remain.

Conclusion

Our study showed no association between sleep duration and cardiometabolic outcomes in adolescents.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13119-7.

Is sleep time associated with handgrip strength in adolescents from the 1997/1998 São Luís Birth Cohort?

This article aims to analyze the association between sleep time and handgrip strength in adolescents belonging to the 1997/1998 São Luís Birth Cohort. This was a cross-sectional study nested in a birth cohort study. One thousand two hundred sixty-nine individuals (18 and 19 years) wore an Actigraph® GTX3+ accelerometer on their wrist 24 hr/day for 7 consecutive days. Handgrip strength was measured using a digital hand dynamometer. We used directed acyclic graphs (DAG) to identify confounding variables. This sample of adolescents was mostly composed of men, with brown skin color, economic class C, which did not work, did not consume alcohol, did not smoke, and never used drugs. The mean value of handgrip strength was 28.2 (±9.3) kgf, and the mean of sleep time was 6 (±1.0) hours per day. The crude analysis showed an association between sleep time and muscle strength. An increase of one hour of sleep reduced the handgrip strength by 1.95 kgf (95%CI:-2.51;-1.39). However, after adjustment for confounders, the association was not maintained (β:-0.07; 95%CI:-0.48;0.36). Sleep time is not associated with handgrip strength in adolescents in São Luís.

Abuse, disrespect and mistreatment during childbirth care: contribution of the Ribeirão Preto cohorts, Brazil

Abstract This study aimed to estimate the perception and frequency of abuse, disrespect and mistreatment (ADM) situations during childbirth care of 745 women from the Ribeirão Preto birt cohorts. Confidential questionnaires containing one question regarding perceived abuse during childbirth care and other questions addressing exposure to ADM situations were applied. The chi-squared test was used to compare the situations presented between women who did and did not report mistreatment using the Stata 14.0 software. Among the 745 women evaluated, 66.2% were exposed to some situation of ADM and 8.3% reported having perceived ADM. The most frequent situations were that the woman could not eat or drink (30.5%), the woman had her belly squeezed to help the child be born (27.5%), and the woman could not stay with a companion of her choice (25.5%). Women who reported to have suffered maltreatment more frequently responded positively to all situations of ADM when compared to the other participants, except for the following statements: “I was not allowed to eat or drink anything” (p = 0.975) and “I was forced to have a cesarean delivery against my will” (p = 0.073). Although most women of the Ribeirão Preto cohorts reported exposure to ADM situations during childbirth care, a minority perceived disrespect or mistreatment.

Diabetes mellitus type 2: factors related to adherence to self-care

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical variables related to the adherence to self-care activities in people with diabetes mellitus type 2. Methods: quantitative, cross-sectional study, carried out with 270 people with diabetes from December 2019 to October 2020, in São Luís, Maranhão. Results: the adherence to self-care was greater when it comes to medications (Md=7.0) and foot care (Md= 6.0), but lower in regard to blood sugar testing (Md=1.0), exercise (Md=2,0), and diet (general) (Md=4.0). The variables age group (p=0.007), educational level (p=0.015), body mass index (p=0.035), complications with diabetes (p=0.009), and nutritional follow-up (p=0.000) had associations with self-care activities. Conclusions: identifying the factors related to the adherence to self-care was found to be essential to strengthen the line of care in chronic diseases and to direct educational actions, aiming to improve the quality of life of people with diabetes.

Associações entre duração de sono e índices de massa gorda, muscular e corporal em adolescentes de São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a associação entre duração de sono e composição corporal em adolescentes. Estudo transversal, com 1.269 adolescentes de 18 e 19 anos da coorte de nascimentos de 1997/1998 de São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil. A duração do sono foi avaliada a partir dos dados registrados por acelerometria. A composição corporal foi avaliada pelo o índice de massa gorda (IMG), índice de massa muscular (IMM) e índice de massa corporal (IMC). Os fatores de confusão foram identificados em gráfico acíclico direcionado no programa DAGitty 3.0. Foram realizadas análises descritivas para todas as variáveis e, posteriormente, regressão linear, com estimativa dos coeficientes de regressão brutos e ajustados, com os respectivos intervalos de 95% de confiança (IC95%). Nos adolescentes do sexo masculino, cada hora a mais de sono associou-se a reduções de 0,30kg/m2 do IMM (IC95%: -0,45; -0,15), de 0,26kg/m2 do IMG (IC95%: -0,48; -0,03) e 0,61kg/m2 do IMC (IC95%: -0,93; -0,30). Nas adolescentes, cada hora a mais de sono associou-se à redução de 0,22kg/m2 do IMM (IC95%: -0,36; -0,07). A maior duração do sono associou-se a menor IMM em ambos os sexos e menor IMG e IMC no sexo masculino, o que evidencia a importância de ter adequadas horas de sono para melhorar os índices de composição corporal.

High sugar content and body mass index: modelling pathways around the first 1000 d of life, BRISA cohort

OBJECTIVE

Few studies are focused on sugar consumption around the first 1000 d of life. Thus, this work modelled the pathways linking the consumption of sugary drinks in pregnancy and maternal pre-gestational BMI to early child’s exposure to products with high sugar content and to BMI z-score in the second year of life.

DESIGN

BRISA cohort, São Luís, Brazil was used from the baseline to the follow-up at the second year of life.

SETTING

A theoretical model was constructed to analyse associations between variables from prenatal period (socio-economic status, age, frequency of sugary drinks consumption during pregnancy and pre-gestational BMI), birth weight, exclusive breast-feeding and two outcomes: higher calories from products with added sugar as a percentage of the total daily energy intake and BMI z-score at follow-up at the first 2 years of life, using structural equation modelling.

PARTICIPANTS

Data of pregnant women (n 1136) and their offspring.

RESULTS

Higher pre-gestational BMI (standardised coefficient (SC) = 0·100; P = 0·008) and higher frequency of sugary drinks consumption during pregnancy (SC = 0·134; P < 0·001) resulted in high percentage of daily calories from products with added sugar in the second year of child, although no yet effect was observed on offspring weight at that time.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal obesity and sugary drinks consumption in pregnancy increased the risk of early exposure (before to 2 years) and high exposure of child to added sugar, showing perpetuation of the unhealthy dietary behaviours in the first 1000 d of life.

Influence of excessive daily sleeping and sleep quality on BDNF and NGF serum levels in adolescents

INTRODUCTION

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neural growth factor (NGF) are widely expressed in the brain and play an important role in neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, and increased neuronal connections. Previous studies have shown that reduced serum levels of these proteins are associated with disorders in human sleep.

OBJECTIVE

Current study evaluates the prevalence in adolescents of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and sleep quality, and analyzes the influence of these factors on BDNF and NGF serum levels.

METHODS

A cross-section population-based study was conducted with data from a Brazilian birth cohort, with a sample of five hundred and thirteen 18-19-year-old adolescents. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and EDS by Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Neurotrophins serum levels were measured by Luminex™ technology kits. Analysis consisted of marginal structural models which compared people who were exposed and not exposed to sleep quality and EDS.

RESULTS

Poor sleep quality and EDS were detected in 62.57% and 36.35% of the sample. Adolescents with poor sleep quality and EDS had -0.39 (p-value = 0.049) and -0.51 pg/ml in NGF (p-value = 0.009). Individuals with self-reported sleep disorder had lower serum levels of NGF (Coef. -0.41, p-value = 0.045).

CONCLUSION

High prevalence of EDS and low sleep quality in a population of adolescents were evidenced. Poor sleep quality and EDS were associated with lower NGF levels, whilst adolescents with self-reported sleep disorder had lower serum levels of NGF.

Analysis of the AUDIT factor structure in adolescents between 18 and 19 years

OBJECTIVE

To determine the factor structure of the instrument Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in a representative sample of adolescents aged 18 to 19 years.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study performed with adolescents born in São Luís (MA). The internal consistency of the instrument was determined by the Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and the validity of the construct was assessed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) was estimated to analyze the adequacy of the sample. The fit quality of the factor model was analyzed according to the indexes of the Chi-square adjustment test, comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA).

RESULTS

The sample of the study was composed of 1,002 adolescents aged from 18 to 19 years, being 56.8% girls, 68.5% with 18 years, 63.3% brown, 48.6% belonging to class C, 15.4% did not work or did not study, and 52.1% had divorced parents. The sample was suitable for confirmatory factor analysis (KMO = 0.79); Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.70, demonstrating satisfactory internal consistency with factor loads above 0.5, except for item 9, "was injured or someone else was injured due to drinking." Confirmatory factor analysis revealed the validity of the three-factor model for the studied sample based on the indices of psychometric adjustments.

CONCLUSION

The three-factor AUDIT factor structure was confirmed for the population of adolescents between 18 and 19 years old living in São Luís, ratifying the original conceptual domains proposed by the World Health Organization. AUDIT proved to be a reliable instrument to identify the consumption of alcohol.

RPS Brazilian Birth Cohorts Consortium (Ribeirão Preto, Pelotas and São Luís): history, objectives and methods

This paper describes the history, objectives and methods used by the nine Brazilian cohorts of the RPS Brazilian Birth Cohorts Consortium (Ribeirão Preto, Pelotas and São Luís) Common thematic axes are identified and the objectives, baseline periods, follow-up stages and representativity of the population studied are presented. The Consortium includes three birth cohorts from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State (1978/1979, 1994 and 2010), four from Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State (1982, 1993, 2004 and 2015), and two from São Luís, Maranhão State (1997 and 2010). The cohorts cover three regions of Brazil, from three distinct states, with marked socioeconomic, cultural and infrastructure differences. The cohorts were started at birth, except for the most recent one in each municipality, where mothers were recruited during pregnancy. The instruments for data collection have been refined in order to approach different exposures during the early phases of life and their long-term influence on the health-disease process. The investigators of the nine cohorts carried out perinatal studies and later studied human capital, mental health, nutrition and precursor signs of noncommunicable diseases. A total of 17,636 liveborns were recruited in Ribeirão Preto, 19,669 in Pelotas, and 7,659 in São Luís. In the studies starting during pregnancy, 1,400 pregnant women were interviewed in Ribeirão Preto, 3,199 in Pelotas, and 1,447 in São Luís. Different strategies were employed to reduce losses to follow-up. This research network allows the analysis of the incidence of diseases and the establishment of possible causal relations that might explain the health outcomes of these populations in order to contribute to the development of governmental actions and health policies more consistent with reality.

Congenital Zika syndrome: Growth, clinical, and motor development outcomes up to 36 months of age and differences according to microcephaly at birth

BACKGROUND

Little is known regarding the developmental consequences of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) without microcephaly at birth. Most previously published clinical series were descriptive and they had small sample sizes.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a cohort study to compare the growth, clinical, and motor development outcomes for 110 children with CZS born with and without microcephaly up to their third birthday. Ninety-three had their head circumference (HC) at birth abstracted and they did not have hypertensive hydrocephalus at birth, where 61 were born with microcephaly and 32 without.

RESULTS

The HC z-scores decreased steeply from birth to six months of age, i.e., from -3.77 to -6.39 among those with microcephaly at birth and from -1.03 to -3.84 among those without. Thus, at 6 months of age, the mean HC z-scores for children born without microcephaly were nearly the same as those for children born with microcephaly. Children born without microcephaly were less likely to have brain damage, ophthalmic abnormalities, and drug-resistant epilepsy, but the differences in many conditions were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Children born without microcephaly were only slightly less likely to present severe neurologic impairment and to develop postnatal-onset microcephaly, and some of the original differences between the groups tended to dissipate with age.

Association of genitourinary infections and cervical length with preterm childbirth

A prospective cohort study was conducted on a convenience sample of 1370 pregnant women with a gestational age of 20 to 25 weeks in the city of Ribeirão Preto. Data on obstetrical history, maternal age, parity, smoking habit, and a history of preterm delivery was collected with the application of a sociodemographic questionnaire. Cervical length was determined by endovaginal ultrasound, and urine and vaginal content samples were obtained to determine urinary tract infection (UTI) and bacterial vaginosis (BV), respectively. The aim of this study was to verify the association of cervical length and genitourinary infections with preterm birth (PTB). Ultrasound showed no association of UTI or BV with short cervical length. PTB rate was 9.63%. Among the women with PTB, 15 showed UTI (RR: 1.55, 95%CI: 0.93–2.58), 19 had BV (RR: 1.22, 95%CI: 0.77–1.94), and one had both UTI and BV (RR: 0.85, 95%CI: 0.13–5.62). Nineteen (14.4%) PTB occurred in women with a cervical length ≤2.5 cm (RR: 2.89, 95%CI: 1.89–4.43). Among the 75 patients with PTB stratified as spontaneous, 10 showed UTI (RR: 2.02, 95%CI: 1.05–3.86) and 14 had a diagnosis of BV (RR: 1.72, 95%CI: 0.97–3.04). A short cervical length between 20 and 25 weeks of pregnancy was associated with PTB, whereas UTI and BV determined at this age were not associated with short cervical length or with PTB, although UTI, even if asymptomatic, was related to spontaneous PTB.

Association between tobacco and/or alcohol consumption during pregnancy and infant development: BRISA Cohort

Fetuses exposed to alcohol and/or tobacco are at risk for perinatal adversities. However, little is currently known about the association of the separate or concomitant use of alcohol and tobacco with infant motor and cognitive development. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the association between maternal consumption of alcohol and/or tobacco during pregnancy and the motor and cognitive development of children starting from the second year of life. The study included 1006 children of a cohort started during the prenatal period (22-25 weeks of pregnancy), evaluated at birth and reevaluated during the second year of life in 2011/2013. The children were divided into four groups according to the alcohol and/or tobacco consumption reported by their mothers at childbirth: no consumption (NC), separate alcohol consumption (AC), separate tobacco consumption (TC), and concomitant use of both (ACTC). The Bayley Scale of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition screening tool was used for the assessment of motor and cognitive development. Adjusted Poisson regression models were used to determine the association between groups and delayed development. The results indicated that only the ACTC group showed a higher risk of motor delay, specifically regarding fine motor skills, compared to the NC group (RR=2.81; 95%CI: 1.65; 4.77). Separate alcohol or tobacco consumption was not associated with delayed gross motor or cognitive development. However, the concomitant use of the two substances increased the risk of delayed acquisition of fine motor skills.

Is birth weight associated with pregestational maternal BMI? BRISA Cohort, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

Given the increase of women with excess weight or obesity and its possible effects on birth weight, the present study aimed to investigate the association between pregestational maternal body mass index (BMI) and birth weight in a birth cohort from Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. This was a prospective study conducted on 1362 mother-child pairs involving singleton births. The women were evaluated using standardized questionnaires during the second trimester of pregnancy and at the time of childbirth. Information about the newborns was obtained from their medical records. The dependent variable was birth weight, categorized as low, adequate, or high. The independent variable was pregestational maternal BMI, categorized as malnutrition, adequate weight, overweight, and obesity. A multinomial regression model was used to estimate the crude and adjusted relative risk (RR) of low and high birth weight. A high frequency of pregestational excess weight (39.6%) was detected and found to be independently associated with high birth weight (RR=2.13, 95%CI: 1.19-3.80 for overweight and RR=3.34, 95%CI: 1.80-6.19 for obese pregnant women). There was no association between pregestational malnutrition and low birth weight (RR=1.70; 95%CI: 0.81-3.55). The present data showed a high rate of women with excess pregestational weight, supporting the hypothesis that pregestational BMI may contribute to high birth weight babies and indicating the need for actions aiming to prevent excessive weight in women at reproductive age.

Body image dissatisfaction and symptoms of depression disorder in adolescents

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of body image dissatisfaction on symptoms of depressive disorder in adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study that included 2,162 adolescents ages 18-19 born in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, which was part of the joint RPS cohort (Brazilian birth cohorts of Ribeirão Preto-SP, Pelotas-RS, and São Luís-MA). Socioeconomic characteristics, nutritional status, mental health, and body image characteristics were evaluated. Body image was assessed by Stunkard’s silhouettes scale. The presence of symptoms indicative of depressive disorder was investigated through a diagnostic interview MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview). A theoretical model was built in a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) in order to investigate the relationship between the variables of the study. The relationship was estimated weighting the inverse probability of selection for the variables of adjustment: sex and nutritional status. Among the dissatisfied adolescents due to overweight, 66.54% were girls, 32.85% were overweight, and 11.99% were obese (P<0.01). There was a significant association between dissatisfaction due to overweight and symptoms of depressive disorder (P=0.01), and there was no evidence of the same association with dissatisfaction due to thinness. Therefore, only dissatisfaction due to overweight was associated with the symptoms of depressive disorder in the evaluated adolescents.

Metabolic profile during pregnancy in BRISA birth cohorts of Ribeirão Preto and São Luís, Brazil

During pregnancy, metabolic changes that develop in women may increase the risk of diseases and conditions that may also harm the life of the growing fetus. The aim of the present study was to identify and compare the metabolic profile (MP) during pregnancy in two birth cohorts in 2010 in the cities of Ribeirão Preto (RP) and São Luís (SL), Brazil. Pregnant women (1393 in RP and 1413 in SL) were studied; information was obtained through questionnaires in addition to anthropometric, biochemical, and blood pressure measurements. Data are presented as means and proportions. To compare the characteristics of pregnant women in both cities, chi-squared and Student's t-tests were applied, with 5% significance level. Ribeirão Preto presented higher mean values than SL for pre-gestational body mass index (24.5 vs 23 kg/m², P<0.001), systolic (108.4 vs 102.8 mmHg, P<0.001) and diastolic (65.9 vs 61.8 mmHg, P<0.001) blood pressure, total cholesterol (226.3 vs 213.7 mg/dL, P<0.001) and fractions, and glycemia (84.5 vs 80.2 mg/dL, P<0.001), except for triglycerides (P=0.135). Women from RP also showed higher rates of pre-gestational overweight and obesity compared with SL (40.1 vs 25.8%). In the present study, pregnant women in RP had a worse gestational metabolic profile than those in SL, with higher pre-gestational excess weight, indicating that nutritional transition was more advanced in the more developed city.

Effect of early determinants on adolescent fat-free mass: RPS cohort of São Luís - MA

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effects of early determinants on adolescent fat-free mass.

METHODS

A cohort study with 579 adolescents evaluated at birth and adolescence in a birth cohort in São Luís, Maranhão. In the proposed model, estimated by structural equation modeling, socioeconomic status (SES) at birth, maternal age, pregestational body mass index (BMI), gestational smoking, gestational weight gain, type of delivery, gestational age, sex of the newborn, length and weight at birth, adolescent socioeconomic status, "neither study/nor work" generation, adolescent physical activity level and alcohol consumption were tested as early determinants of adolescent fat-free mass (FFM).

RESULTS

A higher pregestational BMI resulted in higher FFM in adolescence (Standardized Coefficient, SC = 0.152; p < 0.001). Being female implied a lower FFM in adolescence (SC = -0.633; p < 0.001). The negative effect of gender on FFM was direct (SC = -0.523; p < 0.001), but there was an indirect negative effect via physical activity level (SC = -0.085; p < 0.001). Women were less active (p < 0.001). An increase of 0.5 kg (1 Standard Deviation, SD) in birth weight led to a gain of 0.25 kg/m2 (0.106 SD) in adolescent FFM index (p = 0.034). Not studying or working had a negative effect on the adolescent's FFM (SC = -0.106; p = 0.015). Elevation of 1 SD in the adolescent's physical activity level represented an increase of 0.5 kg/m2 (0.207 SD) in FFM index (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The early determinants with the greatest effects on adolescent FFM are gender, adolescent physical activity level, pregestational BMI, birth weight and belonging to the "neither-nor" generation.

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 1^st 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 1^st 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.

Analysis of the mortality trend in the indigenous population of Brazil, 2000-2016

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the study is to analyze the mortality trend in indigenous peoples in Brazil.

STUDY DESIGN

The study design used is an ecological study.

METHODS

A study carried out with data from the indigenous deaths recorded on the Mortality Information System in Brazil between 2000 and 2016. The Prais Winsten regression was used to analyze the trend of overall mortality in the country and in its geopolitical regions, in addition to the trend by sex, age groups, and groups of basic causes of death.

RESULTS

Of all deaths, 47,806 indigenous deaths were recorded between 2000 and 2016. The majority was male (56.5%) and 27.2% in children aged younger than 5 years. The major groups of causes of death were the circulatory diseases (15.8%) and external causes (14.9%). The affections of the perinatal period (23.7%) and infectious and parasitic diseases (18.5%) were the main causes in children aged younger than 5 years. The indigenous mortality rates showed an increasing trend in the country (annual percent change [APC] = 2.37%). There was growth in both sexes and in most age ranges. Mortality from external causes (APC = 4.71%), neoplasms (APC = 4.67%), and respiratory causes (APC = 4.14%) also presented growth. The infectious and parasitic causes and genitourinary causes showed a stable trend in the studied period.

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing trend of mortality in the analyzed variables showed disparities between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in Brazil, pointing to the need for greater investment in basic social sectors, such as health, education, housing, and sanitation.

Prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness and associated factors in adolescents of the RPS cohort, in São Luís (MA), Brazil

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in adolescents from the São Luís, Maranhão birth cohort.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study conducted with 2,514 adolescents aged 18 and 19 years old. A hierarchical approach was used, and prevalence ratios were calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment. Sociodemographic characteristics (gender, race, economic class, and occupation), lifestyle (leisure activities, smoking, alcohol, illicit drug use, coffee and energy consumption, physical activity, body adiposity, screen time, and depression), and factors related to sleep were studied.

RESULTS

The prevalence of EDS was 36.8%. The female gender (PR = 1.33; 95%CI 1.19 - 1.49), high risk for alcohol consumption (PR = 1.26; 95%CI 1.09 - 1.46), current major depressive episode (PR = 1.26; 95%CI 1.08 - 1.46), sleep alteration score from 10 to 18 (PR = 1.43; 95%CI 1.10 - 1.85), and sleep score from 5 to 7 of daytime dysfunction (PR = 2.51; 95%CI 2.06 - 3.07) were risk factors for EDS. Economic class D/E was a protective factor for EDS (PR = 0.47; 95%CI 0.27 - 0.85).

CONCLUSION

More than one-third of adolescents had EDS. Adolescents at higher risk need to improve their sleeping habits and lifestyle so that they no longer have EDS and can improve their quality of life.

Violence against women before and during gestation: differences in prevalence rates and perpetrators

Abstract Objectives: to analyze differences in prevalence and perpetrators of violence against women before and during pregnancy. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with a sample of 1,446 pregnant women interviewed in 2010 and 2011 in the São Luís municipality (Brazil). Thirteen questions measured psychological, physical and sexual violence in the 12 months before and during pregnancy. Psychological/physical/sexual violence was defined as any type of violence perpetrated against the interviewees. The perpetrators were categorized into intimate partner, other family members, community members, and multiple perpetrators. Differences between violence before and during pregnancy were analyzed by the chi-square test. Results: psychological/physical/sexual and psychological violence were more prevalent during pregnancy than before gestation (p<0.001). Insults, humiliation and intimidation (p<0.05) were more frequently reported during pregnancy. An intimate partner was the most frequent perpetrator. There were no differences in the percentage of moderate and severe forms of physical violence and sexual violence, recurrence of aggressions and perpetrators in both periods (p>0.05). Conclusions: gestation did not protect users of prenatal services in São Luís municipality from psychological, physical and sexual violence. Psychological/physical/sexual and psychological violence were more commonly practiced during pregnancy. The perpetrators of violence in the year before gestation continued to abuse the interviewees during pregnancy

Saúde dos adolescentes da coorte de nascimentos de São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil, 1997/1998

Resumo: O objetivo foi estimar a prevalência de indicadores de saúde de adolescentes em São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil, em 2016. Foram estudadas condições sociodemográficas, hábitos de vida, composição corporal, qualidade do sono, atividade física, habilidade cognitiva e risco de suicídio de 2.515 adolescentes com 18 e 19 anos. Os adolescentes pertencem à coorte de nascimento 1997/1998 ou foram incluídos, retrospectivamente, utilizando-se o banco do SINASC (Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos). Os adolescentes eram, principalmente, da classe econômica C (50,1%), 69,5% estudavam, 40,3% trabalhavam e 25,2% não estudavam nem trabalhavam; 60,3% já foram vítimas de assalto e 48,7% tinham pais separados. Apresentaram padrão de consumo nocivo, excessivo ou provável dependência de álcool 19,4%, 19,1% usaram ou estavam usando drogas ilícitas, 53,7% tinham qualidade de sono ruim, 40,8% referiram dor de cabeça frequente, 34,3% declararam tempo de tela por dia maior que cinco horas e 4,1% apresentaram alto risco para suicídio. A prevalência de hipertensão arterial foi de 12% e de obesidade, 6%. As meninas eram mais inativas (80,7%) e apresentaram maior percentual de gordura corporal alto (15,8%) e muito alto (21,5%), já os meninos tiveram maior prevalência de hipertensão arterial (21,2%) e menor prevalência de inatividade física (40,9%). As elevadas prevalências de fatores de risco à saúde aumentam a vulnerabilidade dos adolescentes, expondo estes indivíduos precocemente a fatores que levam ao acometimento cada vez mais cedo de doenças e agravos à saúde.

Mortalidade por suicídio na população brasileira, 1996-2015: qual é a tendência predominante?

Resumo Introdução O suicídio é uma das três causas de morte mais frequentes no mundo e varia conforme o sexo e a idade. Objetivo Analisar a tendência da mortalidade por suicídio nas regiões brasileiras no período de 1996 a 2015 e sua associação com o sexo e a faixa etária. Método Estudo ecológico de série temporal, utilizando os óbitos por suicídio analisados por regiões no período de 1996 a 2015 contidos no Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade. Para avaliação da tendência da mortalidade por suicídio, foi considerado o modelo de regressão de Prais-Winsten. Para comparar os percentuais de mortalidade por sexo e faixa etária, foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado. Resultados Observou-se tendência crescente de óbitos por suicídio nas regiões Norte (1,73%, Coef = 0,007; p-valor < 0,001), Nordeste (2,30%, Coef = 0,010; p-valor = 0,006) e Sudeste (1,41%, Coef = 0,006; p-valor < 0,001) e decrescente no Sul (-0,57%, Coef = -0,002; p-valor = 0,001), além de predomínio de homens no percentual de óbitos (p < 0,001). Conclusão O suicídio é considerado importante problema de saúde pública, necessitando de ações para divulgação dos riscos e programas de prevenção.

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.

[Factors associated with the involuntary pilgrimage for childbirth care in São Luís (Maranhão State) and Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo State), Brazil: a contribution from the BRISA cohort]

The objectives of this study were to estimate the involuntary pilgrimage by women in labor in search of childbirth care and to identify factors associated with this endeavor in two Brazilian cities. This was a cross-sectional study nested in the BRISA birth cohort, whose sample consisted of 10,475 women admitted to the selected maternity hospitals for delivery in São Luís (Maranhão State) and Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo State). Interviews were held with questionnaires that contained sociodemographic and obstetric variables. Hierarchical modeling was used, and relative risk was calculated with Poisson regression. Involuntary pilgrimage during labor was more frequent in São Luís (35.8%) than in Ribeirão Preto (5.8%). In São Luís, factors associated with pilgrimage were: first pregnancy (RR = 1.19; 95%CI: 1.08-1.31) and schooling less than 12 complete years. However, age 35 years or older (RR = 0.65; 95%CI: 0.54-0.84) was associated with less pilgrimage. In Ribeirão Preto, such trekking for obstetric care was more frequent in women with high-risk pregnancies (RR = 2.45; 95%CI: 1.81-3.32) and those with gestational age less than 37 weeks (RR = 1.93; 95%CI: 1.50-2.50). Meanwhile, delivery with gestational age equal to or greater than 42 weeks was associated with less pilgrimage (RR = 0.57; 95%CI: 0.33-0.98). In both cities, poor women had to trek more in search of childbirth care and had no guarantee of care, even for those who had received prenatal care. The study revealed the lack of guarantee of universal and equitable access and highlighted the unequal access to childbirth care between Brazil's major geographic regions.

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.

[Maternal depressive symptoms and anxiety and interference in the mother/child relationship based on a prenatal cohort: an approach with structural equations modeling]

This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal depressive symptoms and anxiety and interference in the mother/child relationship, using structural equations modeling. Data were used from a prospective cohort study initiated during the prenatal period with 1,140 mothers in São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil. Data were collected during prenatal care and when the children reached two years of age. Interference in the mother/child relationship was measured with the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire - PBQ (N = 1,140). In the initial theoretical model, socioeconomic status determined the maternal demographic, psychosocial, and social support factors, which determined the outcome, i.e., the mother/child relationship. Adjustments were performed by structural equations modeling, using Mplus 7.0. The final model showed good fit (RMSEA = 0.047; CFI = 0.984; TLI = 0.981). Depressive symptoms in pregnancy and the postpartum were associated with higher PBQ scores, indicating interference in the mother/child relationship. The greatest effect was from depressive symptoms in pregnancy. Other factors associated with higher PBQ scores were lower social support, unfavorable socioeconomic status, and living without a partner, by indirect association. Anxiety symptoms and maternal age were not associated with the mother/child relationship. The results suggest that identifying and treating depression in pregnancy and postpartum can improve mother/child bonding in childhood.

[Effects of gestational weight gain and breastfeeding on postpartum weight retention among women in the BRISA cohort]

This study analyzed the effects of gestational weight gain and breastfeeding on postpartum weight retention. The study followed 2,607 women from the BRISA cohort. The variables were age, socioeconomic status, parity, pre-gestational body mass index, gestational weight gain, duration of maternal breastfeeding, length of postpartum follow-up, and postpartum weight gain. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the total, direct, and indirect effects of the explanatory variables on postpartum weight retention. An increase of one standard deviation in gestational weight gain corresponded to a significant increase of 0.49 standard deviations in postpartum weight retention (p < 0.001). An increase of one standard deviation in duration of breastfeeding corresponded to mean decrease of 0.10 standard deviations in postpartum weight retention (p < 0.001). Independently of pre-gestational BMI, gestational weight gain is a risk factor and duration of breastfeeding is a protective factor against postpartum weight retention.

Effects of Socioeconomic Status and Social Support on Violence against Pregnant Women: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

Few studies have used structural equation modeling to analyze the effects of variables on violence against women. The present study analyzed the effects of socioeconomic status and social support on violence against pregnant women who used prenatal services. This was a cross-sectional study based on data from the Brazilian Ribeirão Preto and São Luís birth cohort studies (BRISA). The sample of the municipality of São Luís (Maranhão/Brazil) consisted of 1,446 pregnant women interviewed in 2010 and 2011. In the proposed model, socioeconomic status was the most distal predictor, followed by social support that determined general violence, psychological violence or physical/sexual violence, which were analyzed as latent variables. Violence was measured by the World Health Organization Violence against Women (WHO VAW) instrument. The São Luis model was estimated using structural equation modeling and validated with 1,378 pregnant women from Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo/Brazil). The proposed model showed good fit for general, psychological and physical/sexual violence for the São Luís sample. Socioeconomic status had no effect on general or psychological violence (p>0.05), but pregnant women with lower socioeconomic status reported more episodes of physical/sexual violence (standardized coefficient, SC = -0.136; p = 0.021). This effect of socioeconomic status was indirect and mediated by low social support (SC = -0.075; p<0.001). Low social support was associated with more episodes of general, psychological and physical/sexual violence (p<0.001). General and psychological violence indistinctly affected pregnant women of different socioeconomic status. Physical/sexual violence was more common for pregnant women with lower socioeconomic status and lower social support. Better social support contributed to reduction of all types of violence. Results were nearly the same for the validation sample of Ribeirão Preto except that SES was not associated with physical/sexual violence.

Factors associated with physical violence against pregnant women from São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil: an approach using structural equation modeling

Abstract: The factors associated with physical violence against pregnant women were analyzed in a cross-sectional study of 1,446 pregnant women from a prenatal cohort who were interviewed in 2010 and 2011 in São Luís, Brazil. In the initial model, socioeconomic status occupied the most distal position, determining sociodemographic factors, social support and the behavioral factors that ultimately determined physical violence, which was investigated as a latent variable. Structural equation modeling was used in the analysis. Pregnant women who were from more disadvantaged backgrounds (p = 0.027), did not reside with intimate partners (p = 0.005), had low social support (p < 0.001) and had a high number of lifetime intimate partners (p = 0.001) reported more episodes of physical violence. Low social support was the primary mediator of the effect of socioeconomic status on physical violence. The effect of marital status was mainly mediated by a high number of lifetime intimate partners.

Physical activity in pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes

This study focused on the association between physical activity in the second trimester of pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The study used a sample from the BRISA cohort, São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil, which included women with singleton pregnancy, gestational age from 22 to 25 weeks confirmed by obstetric ultrasound performed at < 20 weeks, and re-interviewed in the first 24 hours postpartum (n = 1,380). Level of physical activity was measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short version, categorized as high, moderate, and low. A directed acyclic graph (DAG) was used to identify minimum adjustment to control confounding. High physical activity was not associated with LBW (RR = 0.94; 95%CI: 0.54-1.63), PTB (RR = 0.86; 95%CI: 0.48-1.54), or IUGR (RR = 0.80; 95%CI: 0.55-1.15). The results support the hypothesis that physical activity during pregnancy does not result in adverse perinatal outcomes.

Inadequação do conteúdo da assistência pré-natal e fatores associados em uma coorte no nordeste brasileiro

Resumo O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar o conteúdo da assistência pré-natal em São Luís e os fatores associados com sua inadequação. Realizou-se estudo transversal baseado em dados da coorte de nascimento de São Luís em 2010. O conteúdo da assistência pré-natal foi classificado como inadequado quando não atendeu aos critérios do Programa de Humanização no Pré-Natal e Nascimento (PHPN) que estabelece o início precoce, o número mínimo de consultas, os exames laboratoriais básicos, a vacinação antitetânica e os procedimentos obstétricos. Regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para observar associações das variáveis com o desfecho. A taxa de inadequação foi de 60,2%. O pré-natal inadequado foi associado à classe econômica C (RP = 1,39; IC = 1,26-1,55), à D/E (RP = 1,60; IC = 1,43-1,79), à ocupação da mãe não qualificada/desempregada (RP = 1,24; IC = 1,11-1,37), à escolaridade de 5-8 anos (RP = 1,12; IC = 1,06-1,19) e de 0-4 anos (RP = 1,13; IC = 1,01-1,26), a não ter religião (RP = 1,10; IC = 1,04-1,17), ao uso de álcool durante a gestação (RP = 1,13; IC = 1,06-1,20) e ao atendimento no serviço público (RP = 1,75; IC = 1,54-2,00). Os resultados demonstraram inadequação e iniquidade da assistência pré-natal, evidenciando que mulheres de pior condição socioeconômica foram as que receberam assistência de menor qualidade.

Changes in perinatal health in two birth cohorts (1997/1998 and 2010) in São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil

The objective of this study was to analyze changes in perinatal health in two birth cohorts started in 1997/1998 and 2010, respectively, in São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil. A total of 2,493 live born infants were included in 1997/1998 and 5,166 in 2010. Low birth weight (LBW) rate did not change (8.5% in 1997/1998 and 8.6% in 2010). Preterm birth (PTB) rate also remained stable (13.2% in 1997/1998 and 13% in 2010). Teenage deliveries and births to single mothers decreased. Maternal schooling and prenatal care coverage increased. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) decreased from 13.3% to 10.6% (p < 0.001). The perinatal mortality rate decreased from 36.6 to 20.7 per 1,000 (p < 0.001) and the infant mortality rate (IMR) dropped from 28.5 to 12.8 per 1,000 (p < 0.001). The cesarean rate increased from 34.1% to 47.5% (p < 0.001). In conclusion, despite favorable changes in socio-demographic, behavioral, and health service factors and decreasing rates of IUGR and perinatal and infant mortality, LBW and PTB remained stable, while the cesarean rate increased.

Desfechos perinatais e alterações na cavidade bucal: coortes brasileiras de Ribeirão Preto e São Luís

RESUMO: Estudos vêm mostrando uma possível associação das doenças bucais no período gestacional com o nascimento pré-termo (NPT) e o baixo peso ao nascer (BPN). Esses desfechos perinatais parecem se associar com defeitos de desenvolvimento do esmalte (DDE) na dentição decídua, que, por sua vez, parecem predispor ao desenvolvimento futuro de lesões de cárie nas crianças. Assim, é relevante a inclusão de variáveis de saúde bucal do binômio mãe/filho nos estudos de coorte para a compreensão de como esses fatores se associam. Os objetivos deste estudo são: 1) verificar se existe associação entre doenças da cavidade bucal da gestante e o NPT; 2) testar a hipótese de associação entre desfechos perinatais e defeitos de esmalte/cárie dentária nas crianças; 3) analisar se existem associações entre desfechos perinatais e distúrbios de erupção dentária nas crianças; 4) construir modelos teóricos para estudo das iniquidades sociais como fator comum entre os desfechos perinatais e condições bucais. Utilizou-se abordagem integrada e colaborativa entre duas cidades brasileiras com condições socioeconômicas contrastantes: São Luís, MA; e Ribeirão Preto, SP - estudo BRISA (Brazilian Birth Cohort Studies, Ribeirão Preto-São Luís ). Duas coortes foram avaliadas: uma iniciada ao nascimento, representativa da população de nascidos vivos; e outra iniciada no pré-natal. Os participantes foram reavaliados a partir do início do segundo ano de vida. Espera-se que estas coortes contribuam para fomentar o desenvolvimento e consolidação de pesquisas de seguimento, de base populacional, no Brasil.

Postpartum depression screening by telephone: a good alternative for public health and research

This study verified the reliability and validity of the Edinburg Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) administered by telephone interviews. In a cross-sectional study of a cohort from Brazil (BRISA), the EPDS was administered by telephone to 1,083 women within 12 months postpartum, and 257 (23.7 %) participants had an EPDS score ≥10. At 67 ± 48 days after their telephone interview, 199 (EPDS ≥10 = 96; EPDS <10 = 103) participants were interviewed face-to-face using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) and completed the EPDS again by self-report. In 90 participants, the diagnosis of major depressive episode was confirmed by the SCID (EPDS ≥10 = 65; EPDS <10 = 25). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.861. The Spearman's correlation between the EPDS administered by telephone and the self-reported EPDS was 0.69 (p < 0.001). The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the EPDS administered by telephone was 0.78 (95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.72 to 0.84). Scores ≥10 showed a sensitivity of 72.2 %, a specificity of 71.6 %, and a positive predictive value of 67.7 %. The application of the EPDS by telephone is a suitable alternative for clinical practice and research and represents a method to optimize the diagnosis of postpartum depression.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the WHO Violence Against Women instrument in pregnant women: results from the BRISA prenatal cohort

Background

Screening for violence during pregnancy is one of the strategies for the prevention of abuse against women. Since violence is difficult to measure, it is necessary to validate questionnaires that can provide a good measure of the phenomenon. The present study analyzed the psychometric properties of the World Health Organization Violence Against Women (WHO VAW) instrument for the measurement of violence against pregnant women.

Methods

Data from the Brazilian Ribeirão Preto and São Luís birth cohort studies (BRISA) were used. The sample consisted of 1,446 pregnant women from São Luís and 1,378 from Ribeirão Preto, interviewed in 2010 and 2011. Thirteen variables were selected from a self-applied questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to investigate whether violence is a uni-or-multidimensional construct consisting of psychological, physical and sexual dimensions. The mean-and-variance-adjusted weighted least squares estimator was used. Models were fitted separately for each city and a third model combining data from the two settings was also tested. Models suggested from modification indices were tested to determine whether changes in the WHO VAW model would produce a better fit.

Results

The unidimensional model did not show good fit (Root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA]  = 0.060, p<0.001 for the combined model). The multidimensional WHO VAW model showed good fit (RMSEA = 0.036, p = 0.999 for the combined model) and standardized factor loadings higher than 0.70, except for the sexual dimension for SL (0.65). The models suggested by the modification indices with cross loadings measuring simultaneously physical and psychological violence showed a significantly better fit compared to the original WHO model (p<0.001 for the difference between the model chi-squares).

Conclusions

Violence is a multidimensional second-order construct consisting of psychological, physical and sexual dimensions. The WHO VAW model and the modified models are suitable for measuring violence against pregnant women.

A protocol to identify non-classical risk factors for preterm births: the Brazilian Ribeirão Preto and São Luís prenatal cohort (BRISA)

Background

Preterm birth is the main cause of morbidity and mortality during the perinatal period. Classical risk factors are held responsible for only 1/3 of preterm births and no current intervention has produced an appreciable reduction of this event. It is necessary to explore new hypotheses and mechanisms of causality by using an integrated approach, collaboration among research groups and less fragmented theoretical-methodological approaches in order to detect new risk factors and to formulate more effective intervention strategies.

Methods

The study will be conducted on a convenience cohort of Brazilian pregnant women recruited at public and private prenatal health services. A total of 1500 pregnant women in São Luís, and 1500 in Ribeirão Preto, will be invited for an interview and for the collection of biological specimens from the 22nd to the 25th week of gestational age (GA). At the time of delivery they will be reinterviewed. GA will be determined using an algorithm based on two criteria: date of last menstruation (DLM) and obstetric ultrasound (OUS) performed at less than 20 weeks of GA. Illicit drug consumption during pregnancy will be determined using a self-applied questionnaire and the following instruments will be used: perceived stress scale, Beck anxiety scale, screening for depression of the Center of Epidemiological Studies (CES-D), experiences of racial discrimination, social network and social support scale of the Medical Outcomes Study and violence (Abuse Assessment Screening and violence questionnaire of the WHO). Bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infection and periodontal disease will also be identified. Neuroendocrine, immunoinflammatory and medical intervention hypotheses will be tested. The occurrence of elective cesarean section in the absence of labor will be used as a marker of medical intervention.

Conclusion

Psychosocial, genetic and infectious mechanisms will be selected, since there are indications that they influence preterm birth (PTB). The studies will be conducted in two Brazilian cities with discrepant socioeconomic conditions. The expectation is to identify risk factors for PTB having a greater predictive power than classically studied factors. The final objective is to propose more effective interventions for the reduction of PTB, which, after being tested, might subsidize health policies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1742-4755-11-79) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Inadequate prenatal care utilization and associated factors in São Luís, Brazil

BACKGROUND

Over the last decades there has been a reduction of social inequalities in Brazil, as well as a strong expansion of health services, including prenatal care. The objective of the present study was to estimate the rate of inadequate prenatal care utilization and its associated factors in São Luís, Brazil, in 2010 and to determine whether there was a reduction of inequity in prenatal care use by comparing the present data to those obtained from a previous cohort started in 1997/98.

METHODS

Data from the BRISA (Brazilian birth cohort studies of Ribeirão Preto and São Luís) population-based cohort, which started in 2010 (5067 women), were used. The outcome variable was the inadequate utilization of prenatal care, classified according to the recommendations of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The explanatory variables were organized into three hierarchical levels based on the Andersen's behavioral model of the use of health services: predisposing, enabling and need factors.

RESULTS

Only 2.0% of the women did not attend at least one prenatal care visit. The rate of inadequate prenatal care utilization was 36.7%. Despite an improved adequacy of prenatal care use from 47.3% in 1997/98 to 58.2% in 2010, social inequality persisted: both low maternal schooling (prevalence ratio (PR) = 2.78; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.23-3.47 for 0 to 4 years of study) and low family income, less than 0.5 monthly minimum wage per capita (PR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.22-1. 54), continued to be associated with higher rates of inadequate prenatal care utilization. Racial disparity regarding adequate utilization of prenatal services was detected, with black (PR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.04-1.36) and mulatto (PR = 1.14; 95% CI 1.02-1.26) women showing higher rates of inadequate use. On the other hand, women covered by the FHP - Family Health Program (PR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.85-0.98) showed a lower rate of inadequate prenatal care utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite strong expansion of health services and expressive improvements in adequate prenatal care use and social indicators, inequalities in prenatal care use still persist. The FHP seems to be effective in reducing inadequate prenatal care utilization.

Low birth weight in São Luís, northeastern Brazil: trends and associated factors

BACKGROUND

To analyze trends in LBW (low birth weight) rate using birth registry data and identify factors associated with LBW in São Luís comparing two birth cohorts separated by a 12-year interval.

METHODS

2,426 births were included in 1997/98 and 5,040 in 2010. The dependent variable was LBW (<2,500 g). Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the association of independent variables with LBW. Data were also obtained from SINASC (Brazilian National Birth Registry) to analyze stillbirth and LBW rates trends from 1996 to 2010, using 3-year moving averages.

RESULTS

LBW, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preterm birth rates did not differ between the two cohorts. Despite this, birth registry data showed increasing LBW rate up to 2001, coinciding with decreasing stillbirth rate. Both stillbirth and LBW rates decreased thereafter. A significant reduction was observed in the percentage of teenage mothers, mothers with up to 4 years of education, family income up to one minimum wage and mothers who did not attend prenatal care. There was an increase in maternal age ≥35 years and schooling ≥12 years. The variables associated with LBW in 1997/98 were young maternal age (<18 years), maternal smoking during pregnancy and primiparity. Variables that remained in the adjusted model in 2010 were female gender, income <3 minimum wages, lack of prenatal care, maternal smoking during pregnancy and primiparity.

CONCLUSIONS

Although LBW rate did not differ between the two cohorts, this apparent stability masked an increase up to 2001 and a decrease thereafter. The rise in LBW rate paralleled reduction in the stillbirth rate, suggesting improvement in obstetrical and newborn care. Maternal, socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with LBW differed between the two cohorts, except for smoking during pregnancy and parity that were significantly associated with LBW in both cohorts.