ABSTRACT OBJETIVE To assess the association of gestational age (GA) and intrauterine growth with body composition at 11 years of age. METHOD Analysis of data from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort, whose outcomes were fat mass (FM, kg), fat mass index (FMI, kg/m2), fat-free mass (FFM, kg), fat-free mass index (FFMI, kg/m2) – measured by air displacement plethysmography – and body mass index for age (BMI/age, Z-score). The exposures of interest were the gestational index (GA) of infants born at […]

ABSTRACT In Brazil, the excess of interventions that anticipate childbirth, such as cesarean sections and labor inductions, has resulted in the shortening of pregnancy, with negative consequences on maternal-infant outcomes. This commentary presents a novel way to measure gestational age: the continuous variable “Potential pregnancy days lost.” Using data from the Live Birth Information System (SINASC), we counted the missing days between the period until childbirth and the average duration of pregnancy (280 days), or the lost weeks. This measure […]

OBJECTIVE: To validate a new symphysis-fundal curve for screening fetal growth deviations and to compare its performance with the standard curve adopted by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. METHODS: Observational study including a total of 753 low-risk pregnant women with gestational age above 27 weeks between March to October 2006 in the city of João Pessoa, Northeastern Brazil. Symphisys-fundal was measured using a standard technique recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Estimated fetal weight assessed through ultrasound using the […]

The influence of maternal height, gestacional age and feeding restrictions in normal pregnant women on the weight at birth of offspring was studied. The results showed that the weight at birth rises along with maternal height and gestational age. Feeding restrictions caused a decrease of 251 grammes in the average newborn weight and was responsible for a third of all births of underweight children. The authors consider that, in women less than 1.50 m tall, pregnancies of 38 and 39 […]

In this paper the authors studied the birth weight of the children of 996 pregnant women in good health. These women had been classified as in adequated nutritional status by the application of a “Weight Curve of Pregnant Women”. Birth weight increased with gestational age until 41st week of gestation, decreasing afterwards. Comparing our birth weight curve with those of Gruenwald, Lubchenco, Usher e Thomson, we can say that the distribution of birth weight of our children was similar or […]

The influence of the socio-economic level on biologic variables such as birth-weight, gestational age and birth order was studied in 734 single live-born deliveries at five Brazilian maternities. Live-borns were classified into ethnic groups according to the races of their ancestors. Socio-economic level was found to be associated with birthweight and birth order, acting therefore as an error – generating variable in racial studies.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic factors, maternal characteristics, breastfeeding, and hospitalization for bronchiolitis in the post-neonatal period. METHODS: A nested case-control study with a cohort of 5,304 children born in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, was conducted. The cohort study consisted of four sub-studies with their own methods and logistics. Mothers were interviewed using a standard questionnaire during in-hospital and home visits. Cases were defined as any child aged 28 to 364 days who had been hospitalized for […]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mortality rate of very low birth weight babies born at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during a specified period of time according to variations in CRIB (Clinical Risk Index for Babies) score, birth weight and gestational age. METHODS: From January 1997 to December 2000, the CRIB score was prospectively applied to all newborn infants admitted to the NICU of an university hospital of Londrina, Brazil, with birthweight under 1,500 g and/or gestational age of less […]

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births. METHODS: All live births occurring in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, between October and December 1993 were identified and mothers interviewed soon after delivery. Birthweight was recorded by the maternity staff. Gestational age was obtained from the mothers’ ´recall of their date of last menstrual period. SGA was defined as a birthweight below the 10th percentile for gestational age and sex, according to the reference developed by Williams. Chi-square test […]

This paper presents the results of a study carried out in 1988 in the State of S. Paulo, with the purpose of evaluating the Program for Women’s Integral Health Care. A total of 3.703 low income women of 15-49 years of age were interviewed using a structured, pre-tested form. The data in this paper relate to 669 women who had been pregnant during 1987 or 1988 and who were asked about pre-natal, delivery and post-partum care. The association between some […]