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Social inequality and perinatal health: comparison of three Brazilian cohorts
Lamy Filho, F; Assunção Júnior, A. N; Silva, A. A. M; Lamy, Z. C; Barbieri, M. A; Bettiol, H.
  • Lamy Filho, F; Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Medicina III. São Luís. BR
  • Assunção Júnior, A. N; Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Saúde Pública. São Luís. BR
  • Silva, A. A. M; Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Departamento de Saúde Pública. São Luís. BR
  • Lamy, Z. C; Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Hospital Universitário. São Luís. BR
  • Barbieri, M. A; Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Departamento de Pediatria. Ribeirão Preto. BR
  • Bettiol, H; Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Departamento de Pediatria. Ribeirão Preto. BR
Braz. j. med. biol. res ; 40(9): 1177-1186, Sept. 2007. tab
Article in English | LILACS | ID: lil-460897
ABSTRACT
The objective of the present study was to estimate and compare social inequality in terms of three indicators, i.e., low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB) and small for gestational age (SGA) birth, in three birth cohorts. Two cohorts were from the city of Ribeirão Preto, where data were collected for all 6748 live born singletons in 1978/79 and for one third of live born singletons (2846) in 1994. The third cohort consisted of 2443 singletons born in São Luís over a period of one year (1997/98). In Ribeirão Preto, LBW and PTB rates increased in all social strata from 1978/79 to 1994. Social inequalities regarding LBW and PTB disappeared since the increase in these rates was more accelerated in the groups with higher educational level. The percentage of SGA infants increased over the study period. Social inequality regarding SGA birth increased due to a more intense increase in SGA births in the strata with lower schooling. In São Luís, in 1997/98 there was no social inequality in LBW or PTB rates, whereas SGA birth rate was higher in mothers with less schooling. We speculate that the more accelerated increase in medical intervention, especially due to the increase in cesarean sections in the more privileged groups, could be the main factor explaining the unexpected increase in LBW and PTB rates in Ribeirão Preto and the decrease or disappearance of social inequality regarding these perinatal indicators in the two cities.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Index: LILACS (Americas) Main subject: Socioeconomic Factors / Infant, Low Birth Weight / Infant, Premature / Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Health Status Indicators Type of study: Etiology study / Incidence study / Observational study / Risk factors Limits: Humans / Infant, Newborn Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English Journal: Braz. j. med. biol. res Journal subject: Biology / Medicine Year: 2007 Type: Article / Project document Affiliation country: Brazil Institution/Affiliation country: Universidade Federal do Maranhão/BR / Universidade de São Paulo/BR

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Full text: Available Index: LILACS (Americas) Main subject: Socioeconomic Factors / Infant, Low Birth Weight / Infant, Premature / Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Health Status Indicators Type of study: Etiology study / Incidence study / Observational study / Risk factors Limits: Humans / Infant, Newborn Country/Region as subject: South America / Brazil Language: English Journal: Braz. j. med. biol. res Journal subject: Biology / Medicine Year: 2007 Type: Article / Project document Affiliation country: Brazil Institution/Affiliation country: Universidade Federal do Maranhão/BR / Universidade de São Paulo/BR