Vânia Maria de Farias Aragão

Factors associated with inadequacy of prenatal care utilization

OBJECTIVE To identify factors associated with inadequacy of prenatal care utilization in urban community. METHODS A cross-sectional study of a systematic sample stratified by maternity hospital, consisting of hospital births in the municipality of São Luís, Brazil, was carried out from March 1997 to February 1998. Socioeconomic and demographic factors, reproductive health, morbidity during pregnancy, and utilization of prenatal care services were studied. Mothers answered a standardized questionnaire before hospital discharge. The adequacy of prenatal care utilization was analyzed by means of two indexes: APNCU (Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization) and a new index based on the recommendations of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. RESULTS There were interviewed 2,831 women who delivered at 10 public and private maternity hospitals. The inadequacy of prenatal care utilization was 49.2% according to the APNCU index and 24.5% when determined by the Brazilian index. Prenatal care at public services, low maternal schooling, low income, having no partner, and absence of maternal diseases during pregnancy were associated with inadequacy of prenatal care use according to both indexes. High parity and maternal age of 35 years or more were also associated with inadequacy, whereas primiparity, morbidity, and young maternal age (<20 years) seemed to protect from inadequacy when the Brazilian index was used. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal care showed low coverage in the municipality of São Luís. The inadequacy of prenatal care utilization was associated with several factors linked to social inequality.

Perinatal health and mother-child health care in the municipality of São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil

The purpose of this article was to evaluate socioeconomic and demographic indicators, reproductive health, use of prenatal, childbirth, and neonatal services, and anthropometric data for mothers and infants. The authors performed a cross-sectional analysis of a systematic sample of 2,831 hospital births in São Luís, Maranhão State, from March 1997 to February 1998 at ten public and private maternity hospitals. The sample was stratified proportionally according to the number of births in each maternity hospital. Mothers answered a standard questionnaire. Of the total, 97.9% were live births and 98% were singletons. Prenatal coverage was 89.5%, and prevalence of cesarean sections was 33.8%. A physician provided prenatal care in 75.7% of cases and performed 73.8% of the deliveries. The Unified Health System covered the costs of 76.4% of the prenatal visits and 89.7% of the deliveries. A pediatrician was present in the delivery room in 50.2% of cases. The low birth weight rate was 9.6% and the preterm birth rate 13.9%. Reasons for concern included a high percentage of adolescent mothers, single mothers (or without partners), the high cesarean rate, and the high percentage of births attended by unqualified personnel.

Risk factors for preterm births in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil

Preterm birth continues to be one of the main causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The objective of the present study was to identify risk factors for preterm birth in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The sample consisted of hospital births at 10 public and private hospitals from March 1, 1997 to February 28, 1998. A total of 2,443 live births were randomly selected, excluding multiple deliveries and stillbirths. Preterm birth rate in São Luís was 12.7%. Risk factors for preterm delivery were maternal age below 18 years, family income equal to or less than one minimum wage/ month, primiparity, vaginal delivery at a public hospital, single mothers (or living without a partner), and absence of prenatal care. The following factors remained associated with preterm birth after multivariate analysis to control for confounding: maternal age below 18 years (OR=1.9), primiparity (OR=1.5), and failure to appear for scheduled prenatal care visits (OR=1.5).

Risk Factors for Intrauterine Growth Restriction: A Comparison between Two Brazilian Cities

In Brazil, similar intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) rates were observed between cities with distinct levels of socioeconomic development, challenging the current knowledge that higher rates of IUGR would necessarily be observed in poorer areas than in wealthier ones. Ribeirão Preto, a city located in the most developed area in Brazil, showed an IUGR rate of 18% in 1994, whereas this rate was 18.5% in 1997/1998 in São Luís, located in one of the poorest areas in the country. The objective of this study was to compare risk factors for IUGR in these two cities and to identify factors that are responsible for this unexpected lack of difference between the rates. Using data from two birth cohorts, including 2839 neonates who were from Ribeirão Preto and born in 1994 and 2439 neonates who were from São Luís and born in 1997/1998, a multivariable analysis was conducted to assess changes in the risk for IUGR in the poorer city compared with the wealthier one in a combined model, adjusting for some risk factors for IUGR. The wealthier city showed higher rates of maternal smoking, attendance in the private sector, and obstetric interventions than the less developed one. Differences in maternal smoking and obstetric interventions were possibly responsible for the similarity of the rates between cities. It seems that early detection of IUGR followed by cesarean section in the wealthier city is associated with increased low birth weight and IUGR rates but reduced stillbirth and infant mortality rates.

Infant mortality and low birth weight in cities of Northeastern and Southeastern Brazil

OBJECTIVE To compare estimates of low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA), and infant mortality in two birth cohorts in Brazil. METHODS The two cohorts were performed during the 1990s, in S o Lu s, located in a less developed area in Northeastern Brazil, and Ribeir o Preto, situated in a more developed region in Southeastern Brazil. Data from one-third of all live births in Ribeir o Preto in 1994 were collected (2,839 single deliveries). In S o Lu s, systematic sampling of deliveries stratified by maternity hospital was performed from 1997 to 1998 (2,439 single deliveries). The chi-squared (for categories and trends) and Student t tests were used in the statistical analyses. RESULTS The LBW rate was lower in S o Lu s, thus presenting an epidemiological paradox. The preterm birth rates were similar, although expected to be higher in Ribeir o Preto because of the direct relationship between preterm birth and LBW. Dissociation between LBW and infant mortality was observed, since S o Lu s showed a lower LBW rate and higher infant mortality, while the opposite occurred in Ribeir o Preto. CONCLUSIONS Higher prevalence of maternal smoking and better access to and quality of perinatal care, thereby leading to earlier medical interventions (cesarean section and induced preterm births) that resulted in more low weight live births than stillbirths in Ribeir o Preto, may explain these paradoxes. The ecological dissociation observed between LBW and infant mortality indicates that the LBW rate should no longer be systematically considered as an indicator of social development.

Emissões otoacústicas evocadas transientes e por produto de distorção em escolares

Past five years of age, the main complaint of children who are hard of hearing is that they have difficulty in learning. AIM: Compare these results to suspected hearing loss, through triage with the exams of evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) transients (TEOAE) and by distortion product (DPEOAE), using data from audiometric exams; observe which of the procedures of EOAE better respond to school children triage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate 451 school children, grade one students, from the public schools in Sao Luis. At school, otoscopic exams with the removal of wax and the TEOAE and DPEOAE exams were also carried on all school children. Audiometry and acoustic impedance were performed on the children who presented alterations at any point during the TEOAE and/or DPEOAE exams. STUDY DESIGN: Transversal- Prospective. RESULTS: 18.6% had ear wax. As for the TEOAE and DPEOAE triage, no significant statistic difference was found when comparing the results of the exams which failed only in the TEOAE and DOEOAE with audiometric exam data, nonetheless, when comparing this failure data to both of these exams there was a significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both EOAE procedures responded well to the hearing triage in school children.

Pressão arterial do anestesiologista durante o ato anestésico-cirúrgico no período matutino

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Systemic arterial hypertension affects approximately 20% of the world population, depending on the interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Stresses inherent to the anesthesiologists work might reflect in the cardiovascular system, influencing professionals blood pressure. This study aimed at verifying whether the practice of anesthesia is a triggering factor for anesthesiologists blood pressure changes during surgical anesthetic procedures. METHODS Participated in these study 10 anesthesiologists, each one inducing 10 spinal anesthesias for cesarean section. Blood pressure was measured in five different moments, in a total of 50 readings one each anesthesiologist. The first measure was recorded soon after the anesthesiologists arrival in the operating center and was called M1; the second, before lumbar puncture and was called M2; the third, immediately after needle removal from the puncture site and was called M3; the forth reading, M4, was obtained immediately after fetal extraction; and the last value, M5, at end of skin suture. RESULTS There has been anesthesiologists blood pressure increase in moments M3 and M4. CONCLUSIONS The anesthetic practice is responsible for significant changes in anesthesiologists blood pressure and is a direct function of moments of higher risk for the patient during surgical anesthetic procedures.JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A hipertensao arterial sistemica incide em aproximadamente 20% da populacao mundial, dependendo da interacao entre a predisposicao genetica e fatores ambientais. As condicoes de estresse inerentes ao trabalho do anestesiologista podem se manifestar no aparelho cardiovascular, influenciando na pressao arterial do profissional que a pratica. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se a pratica da anestesia e fator desencadeante da variacao da pressao arterial no anestesiologista durante o ato anestesico cirurgico. METODO: Participaram do estudo dez anestesiologistas, cada um realizando dez anestesias raquidianas para parto cesariano. Foram registradas cinco medidas da pressao arterial em cinco momentos diferentes, no total de 50 afericoes por anestesiologista. A primeira, realizada apos descanso previo de cinco minutos da chegada do anestesiologista ao centro cirurgico, denominado M1. A segunda, antes da realizacao da puncao lombar, M2. A terceira, logo apos a retirada da agulha do local da puncao onde foi realizado o bloqueio, M3. A quarta, imediatamente apos a retirada do feto, M4. E a ultima afericao, ao termino da sutura da pele, M5. RESULTADOS: Ocorreu elevacao na pressao arterial do anestesiologista nos momentos M3 e M4. CONCLUSOES: A pratica anestesica realizada e responsavel por alteracao significativa da pressao arterial do anestesiologista e esta diretamente relacionada com os momentos de maior risco para o paciente durante o ato anestesico cirurgico.

Early life, current socioeconomic position and serum lipids in young adulthood of participants in a cohort study initiated in 1978/1979

The association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and serum lipids has been little studied and the results have been controversial. A total of 2063 young adults born in 1978/79 were evaluated at 23-25 years of age in the fourth follow-up of a cohort study carried out in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, corresponding to 31.8% of the original sample. Total serum cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, high-density cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) and low-density cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) were analyzed according to SEP at birth and during young adulthood. SEP was classified into tertiles of family income and a cumulative score of socioeconomic disadvantage was created. TC was 11.85 mg/100 mL lower among men of lower SEP in childhood (P < 0.01) but no difference was found in women, whereas it was 8.46 lower among men (P < 0.01) and 8.21 lower among women of lower SEP in adulthood (P < 0.05). Individuals of lower SEP had lower LDL and HDL cholesterol, with small differences between sexes and between the two times in life. There was no association between SEP and triglyceride levels. After adjustment of income at one time point in relation to the other, some associations lost significance. The greater the socioeconomic disadvantage accumulated along life, the lower the levels of TC, LDL and HDL cholesterol (P < 0.05). The socioeconomic gradient of TC and LDL cholesterol was inverse, representing a lower cardiovascular risk for individuals of lower SEP, while the socioeconomic gradient of HDL cholesterol indicated a lower cardiovascular risk for individuals of higher SEP.

Transient evoked otoacustic emissions and distortion product in school children

UNLABELLED Past five years of age, the main complaint of children who are hard of hearing is that they have difficulty in learning. AIM Compare these results to suspected hearing loss, through triage with the exams of evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) transients (TEOAE) and by distortion product (DPEOAE), using data from audiometric exams; observe which of the procedures of EOAE better respond to school children triage. MATERIALS AND METHODS To evaluate 451 school children, grade one students, from the public schools in São Luís. At school, otoscopic exams with the removal of wax and the TEOAE and DPEOAE exams were also carried on all school children. Audiometry and acoustic impedance were performed on the children who presented alterations at any point during the TEOAE and/or DPEOAE exams. STUDY DESIGN Transversal-Prospective. RESULTS 18.6% had ear wax. As for the TEOAE and DPEOAE triage, no significant statistic difference was found when comparing the results of the exams which failed only in the TEOAE and DOEOAE with audiometric exam data, nonetheless, when comparing this failure data to both of these exams there was a significant difference (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Both EOAE procedures responded well to the hearing triage in school children.

Alterações auditivas em crianças de 7 a 9 anos de idade de uma escola pública de ensino fundamental em São Luís, Maranhão - doi:10.5020/18061230.2007.p155

The objective of this study was to verify the hearing alterations and their frequencies in children aged 7-9 years old from a public elementary school in Sao Luis, Maranhao. The study was carried out from May to July, 2004, with 101 first grade scholars, 52 boys and 49 girls. The scholars were evaluated by means of otoscopic, audiometric and tympanometric procedures at the Medical Dental Integrated Clinic. The tests involving 202 ears demonstrated that 27% (54) of these had cerumen impaction. One scholar showed perforated tympanic membrane (0.5%). Hearing within the normal limits was observed in 75.7% (153) of the ears, while 24.3% (49) presented hearing alterations. The most frequent alterations were the conductive hearing loss, in 15% (31) of the ears, followed by the sensorineural hearing loss, in 6% (13). Mixed hearing loss occurred in 2.5% (5). Imitation testing involving 201 ears showed altered tympanic membrane: type B curve in 8.5% (17) and type C curve in 9.5% (19). There were no statistical associations between hearing impairments and gender or between hearing impairments and laterality of the ear. It was concluded that hearing evaluation of school children is necessary for the early identification and correction of its multiple consequences.