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Biomedical subjects

F C Barros

Publications and source records attributed to F C Barros.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Perinatal mortality in southern Brazil: a population-based study of 7392 births.

Perinatal, fetal and early neonatal mortality rates were determined in a population of 7392 babies born in hospitals in Pelotas (total population, 260 000) during 1982. These babies represented over 99% of all births in the city in that year. The perinatal mortality rate for singletons was 31.9 per 1000 total births, the fetal mortality rate being 16.2 and the early neonatal mortality rate 15.9 per 1000 total births.The most important variable influencing perinatal mortality was birth weight; low-birth-weight babies were 17 times more likely to die in the perinatal period than those weighing 2500 g or more. Perinatal mortality was also strongly influenced by socio-economic status, which was measured by family income. Babies belonging to the poorest families were 3 times more likely to die during the perinatal period than those in families with the highest incomes. Other variables significantly associated with perinatal mortality were gestational age, maternal age, maternal weight and height, reproductive history, attendance in antenatal clinics, parity, and birth interval. Information on most of these risk factors can easily be obtained by health workers at the beginning of pregnancy and should be taken into consideration when allocating women to the proper level of care.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Why so many caesarean sections? The need for a further policy change in Brazil.

Caesarean sections in Brazil rose from 15 per cent of all births in 1970 to over 30 per cent in 1980. A new policy was introduced by the largest medical care provider (INAMPS) which made the reimbursement fee payable to doctors the same for both vaginal and caesarean section deliveries. However, the caesarean rate has continued to rise. This study analysed the antenatal care and deliveries of over 7000 births which occurred during 1982 in the city of Pelotas in southern Brazil. The organization of health care is discussed in relation to the findings on the utilization of the different antenatal and delivery services available. Utilization is then related to the gestational risk and socio-economic status of the mothers. There were marked differentials between the low and high risk mothers and between those from high and low income families. Doctors clearly concentrated their efforts on the low risk and high income mothers, with 50 per cent of private patients having an operative delivery compared to 13 per cent of uninsured mothers. There was a large demand for tubal ligations to be carried out at the same time as the caesareans. The non-medical and financial reasons for these high rates are discussed and the high extra cost that is being incurred by patients and the insurance schemes is emphasized.

Brazil↗
PubMed1986

Breastfeeding and socioeconomic status in Southern Brazil.

Patterns of breastfeeding were studied in a cohort of 5 914 infants followed from birth in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Overall, 92% of the babies commenced breastfeeding and 54% were still breastfed by 3 months of age. This proportion dropped to 30% by 6 months, 20% by 9 months, and 16% by 12 months. The prevalence of breastfeeding soon after birth, and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age was studied according to socioeconomic status as measured by family income. Children from the poorest families were less likely to be breastfed from birth than those from the richest families (89% and 97%, respectively), and also showed lower prevalence of breastfeeding at 3 and 6 months. By the age of 12 months poor children showed the highest prevalence of breastfeeding.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Birth weight and duration of breast-feeding: are the beneficial effects of human milk being overestimated?

The beneficial effects of breast-feeding on infant mortality and morbidity have been demonstrated in many studies. Few of these, however, have taken into account the possible confounding effect of birth weight. Several studies have shown that babies of low birth weight are less likely to be breast-fed. In some circumstances, this alone may account for a more than twofold excess in postperinatal infant mortality rates among non-breast-fed babies, even in the absence of any beneficial effect of breast-feeding. The association between birth weight and breast-feeding and the magnitude of the confounding effect is illustrated using data from a longitudinal study of infant mortality in Pelotas, Southern Brazil, and also using published results from other studies. It is concluded that studies designed or analyzed to relate breast-feeding to infant mortality should take the confounding effect of birth weight into account to avoid overestimating the beneficial effects of human milk.

Birth Weight↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Birthweight, socio-economic status and growth of Brazilian infants.

A population-based cohort of 1458 Brazilian infants was followed from birth to 9-15 months of age to investigate the effects of birthweight and family income on subsequent growth. There was a strong association between birthweight and attained weight and length, while virtually no malnutrition among children who weighed more than 3000 g at birth; Children with lower birthweights tended to put on less weight during the first year, but these differences were no longer significant after controlling for family income. As a result, infants of lower birthweights tended to remain behind those of higher birthweights. Children from the wealthiest families gained 20% more weight than low-income infants, irrespective of birthweight. Low birthweight infants from high-income families were therefore likely to approach the standard weight at one year old while those from poor families lagged behind.

Anthropometry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cross-cultural differences in developmental rates: a comparison between British and Brazilian children.

The Griffiths Mental Development Scales were administered to a population-based sample of 305 4-year-old children from a Brazilian city. Their performance was compared to that of 285 British children of the same age who participated in the standardization phase of this instrument. Although the mean general quotients were very similar for both groups, British children performed better than Brazilians in the fine motor and practical reasoning scales. Brazilians, on the other hand, proved to be more advanced in gross motor and speech scales. The possibility of these differences being explained in terms of cultural environment is discussed.

Brazil↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prenatal care in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 1993].

All 5304 births in the hospitals of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil in 1993 were studied. Neonates were examined and their mothers were interviewed regarding sociodemographic conditions, family income, reproductive health, and medical care during pregnancy. Ninety-five per cent of women received prenatal care. The mean number of physician visits during pregnancy was 7 and the majority of the women (84.7%) began visits before the fifth month of pregnancy. Women who did not receive prenatal care were from the lowest socioeconomic stratum and were mostly adolescents or over 40 years of age. Incidence of low birth weight in this group was 2.5 times that of the group with more than five visits (p>0.001). Perinatal mortality rate was 50.6/1000 in the group without prenatal care and 15.8/1000 in the group with more than five visits. With regard to utilization of health care, the study shows that twenty-five per cent of women with high gestational risk received inadequate prenatal care. The rate was less than 10% in the group of women with low gestational risk. These results suggest the need for improvement in the quality of prenatal care with special attention for mothers with high gestational risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hospitalization for bronchiolitis: a risk factor for recurrent wheezing].

This longitudinal study evaluated the role of hospitalization for acute bronchiolitis as a risk factor for recurrent wheezing. Participants were children from a 1993 cohort in a southern Brazilian city. Hierarchical multivariate analysis showed that previous hospitalization for bronchiolitis was the most important risk factor for recurrent wheezing, with an odds ratio of 4.9. This strong association is consistent with a casual relationship hypothesis.

Acute Disease↗