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Objective: To describe vaccination coverage and hesitation for the basic children's schedule in Belo Horizonte and Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais state, Brazil., Methods: Population-based epidemiological surveys performed from 2020 to 2022, which estimated vaccine coverage by type of immunobiological product and full schedule (valid and ministered doses), according to socioeconomic strata; and reasons for vaccination hesitancy., Results: Overall coverage with valid doses and vaccination hesitancy for at least one vaccine were, respectively, 50.2% (95%CI 44.1;56.2) and 1.6% (95%CI 0.9;2.7), in Belo Horizonte (n = 1,866), and 64.9% (95%CI 56.9;72.1) and 1.0% (95%CI 0.3;2.8), in Sete Lagoas (n = 451), with differences between socioeconomic strata. Fear of severe reactions was the main reason for vaccination hesitancy., Conclusion: Coverage was identified as being below recommended levels for most vaccines. Disinformation should be combated in order to avoid vaccination hesitancy. There is a pressing need to recover coverages, considering public health service access and socioeconomic disparities., Main Results: Vaccination coverage of children up to 4 years old was 50.2% in Belo Horizonte, and 64.9% in Sete Lagoas. Fear of severe reactions and believing that vaccination against eradicated diseases is unnecessary were the main reasons for vaccination hesitancy., Implications for Services: Recovery of high vaccination coverage among children, considering public health service access conditions and socioeconomic inequities. Acting on reasons for hesitancy that can assist in targeting actions., Perspectives: The multifactorial context of vaccination hesitancy demands the development of health education strategies to raise awareness about child immunization.

Objective: To describe timely vaccination completion and obstacles in the first 24 months of life in Brazil, examining associations with maternal race/skin color., Methods: Study participants were 37,801 children born in 2017 and 2018 included in the National Immunization Coverage Survey. We calculated prevalence and 95% confidence intervals for timely vaccine completeness and obstacles at 5, 12 and 24 months of life, according to maternal race/skin color. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression., Results: 7.2% (95%CI 6.3;8.2) of mothers faced difficulties in taking their children to be vaccinated, and 23.4% (95%CI 21.7;25.1) were not vaccinated when taken. These proportions were 75% (95%CI 1.25;2.45) and 97% (95%CI 1.57;2.48) higher, respectively, among Black mothers. At least one vaccination was delayed among 49.9% (95%CI 47.8;51.9) and 61.1% (95%CI 59.2;63.0) of children by 5 and 12 months, respectively. These rates were higher among Black/mixed race mothers., Conclusion: There are racial inequalities in both the obstacles faced and in vaccination rates in Brazil., Main Results: Marked racial inequalities were found in the obstacles to vaccination of children under 24 months in Brazil and to timely vaccination at 5 months and in the first year of life., Implications for Services: Racial inequalities in the occurrence of vaccination shortcomings in health services, in the objective restrictions faced by families in taking their children to vaccination centers and in incomplete vaccination in a timely manner need to be addressed by the Brazilian National Health System., Perspectives: Equal public policies to address barriers to vaccination and qualification of health services need to be implemented. Studies need to deepen understanding of the structural determinants that lead to racial disparities.

The Maternal Mortality Study conducts a hospital investigation of maternal deaths that occurred in 2020/2021 in the maternity hospitals sampled by the Birth in Brazil II survey, with the following objectives: estimate the maternal mortality underreporting; calculate a correction factor and the corrected (MMR); validate the causes of maternal mortality reported in the death certificate (DC); and analyze the factors associated with maternal mortality. The Birth in Brazil II includes approximately 24,250 puerperal women distributed in 465 public, private, and mixed hospitals with ≥ 100 live births/year in the five macroregions of Brazil. The Maternal Mortality Study data will be completed using the same Birth in Brazil II questionnaire, from the consultation of hospital records. Trained obstetricians will fill out a new DC (redone DC) from independent analysis of this questionnaire, comparing it to official data. The database of the investigated deaths will be related to the deaths listed in the Mortality Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, allowing the estimation of underreporting and calculation of the corrected MMR. To calculate the reliability of the causes of death, the kappa test and prevalence-adjusted kappa with 95% confidence interval will be used. A case-control study to estimate the risk factors for maternal mortality will be developed with the investigated deaths (cases) and the controls obtained in the Birth in Brazil II survey, using conditional multiple logistic regression models. We expect this research to contribute to the correction of the underreporting of maternal mortality and to a better understanding of the determinants of the persistence of a high MMR in Brazil.

The study aimed to detect high-risk areas for deaths of children and adolescents 5 to 14 years of age in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, from 2009 to 2020. This was an exploratory ecological study with municipalities as the units of analysis. Considering mortality data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and demographic data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the study used multivariate statistics to identify space-time clusters of excess mortality risk in this age group. From 5 to 9 years of age, two clusters with high mortality risk were detected; the most likely located in the state's southern mesoregion (RR: 1.6; LRT: 8,53). Among the 5 clusters detected in the 10-14-year age group, the main cluster was in the state's northern mesoregion (RR: 2,26; LRT: 7,84). A reduction in mortality rates was observed in the younger age group and an increase in these rates in the older group. The identification of these clusters, whose analysis merits replication in other parts of Brazil, is the initial stage in the investigation of possible factors associated with morbidity and mortality in this group, still insufficiently explored, and for planning adequate interventions.

Brazil has made advances in obstetric care in public and private hospitals; however, weaknesses in this system still require attention. The Brazilian Ministry of Health, aware of this need, funded the second version of the Birth in Brazil survey. This study aimed to evaluate: prenatal, labor and birth, postpartum, and abortion care, comparing the results with those of Birth in Brazil I; and analyze the main determinants of perinatal morbidity and mortality; evaluate the care structure and processes of obstetrics and neonatology services in maternity hospitals; analyze the knowledge, practices, and attitudes of health professionals who provide birth and abortion care; and identify the main barriers and facilitators related to care of this nature in Brazil. With a national scope and a 2-stage probability sample: 1-hospitals and 2-women, stratified into 59 strata, 465 hospitals were selected with a total planned sample of around 24,255 women - 2,205 for abortion reasons and 22,050 for labor reasons. Data collection was conducted using six electronic instruments during hospital admission for labor or abortion, with two follow-up waves, at two and four months. In order to expand the number of cases of severe maternal morbidity, maternal and perinatal mortality, three case control studies were incorporated into Birth in Brazil II. The fieldwork began in November 2021 and is scheduled to end in 2023. It will allow a comparison between current labor and birth care results and those obtained in the first study and will evaluate the advances achieved in 10 years.

Pregnancy, parturition and birth bring major changes to the lives of mothers and fathers. This article presents a research protocol for estimating the prevalence of postpartum mental health outcomes in mothers and fathers, abuse and satisfaction in delivery/abortion care, and the correlations between them and socioeconomic, obstetric, and child health factors. As a 2-component research, it consists of a prospective cohort study with all postpartum women interviewed in the 465 maternity hospitals included at the Birth in Brazil II baseline survey conducted from 2021 to 2023, and a cross-sectional study with the newborns' fathers/partners. Interviews will be conducted via telephone or self-completion link sent by WhatsApp with the mother at 2 and 4 months after delivery/abortion. Partners will be approached three months after birth (excluding abortions, stillbirths and newborn death) using the telephone number informed by the mother at the maternity ward. Postpartum women will be inquired about symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, abuse during maternity care and quality of the mother-newborn bond. Maternal and neonatal morbidity, use of postnatal services, and satisfaction with maternity care are also investigated. Fathers will be asked to report on symptoms of depression and anxiety, and the quality of the relationship with the partner and the newborn. The information collected in this research stage may help to plan and improve care aimed at the postpartum health of the mother-father-child triad.

Brazil presents high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Cases of severe maternal morbidity, maternal near miss, and perinatal deaths are important health indicators and share the same determinants, being closely related to living conditions and quality of perinatal care. This article aims to present the study protocol to estimate the perinatal mortality rate and the incidence of severe maternal morbidity and maternal near miss in the country, identifying its determinants. Cross-sectional study integrated into the research Birth in Brazil II, conducted from 2021 to 2023. This study will include 155 public, mixed and private maternities, accounting for more than 2,750 births per year, participating in the Birth in Brazil II survey. We will collect retrospective data from maternal and neonatal records of all hospitalizations within a 30-day period in these maternities, applying a screening form to identify cases of maternal morbidity and perinatal deaths. Medical record data of all identified cases will be collected after hospital discharge, using a standardized instrument. Cases of severe maternal morbidity and maternal near miss will be classified based on the definition adopted by the World Health Organization. The perinatal deaths rate and the incidence of severe maternal morbidity and maternal near miss will be estimated. Cases will be compared to controls obtained in the Birth in Brazil II survey, matched by hospital and duration of pregnancy, in order to identify factors associated with negative outcomes. Results are expected to contribute to the knowledge on maternal morbidity and perinatal deaths in Brazil, as well as the development of strategies to improve care.

Breastfeeding (BF) is a human right, and it must start from birth. The adequacy of Rede Cegonha (RC) strategies can contribute to the promotion of BF. The objective was to identify factors associated with BF in the first and 24 hours of live births at full-term maternity hospitals linked to CR. Cross-sectional study with data from the second evaluation cycle 2016-2017 of the RC that covered all of Brazil. Odds ratios were obtained through binary logistic regression according to a hierarchical model, with 95% confidence intervals and p-value < 0.01. The prevalence of BF in the first hour was 31% and in the 24 hours 96.6%. The chances of BF in the first hour increased: presence of a companion during hospitalization, skin-to-skin contact, vaginal delivery, delivery assistance by a nurse and accreditation of the unit in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Similar results at 24 hours, and association with maternal age below 20 years. BF in the first hour was less satisfactory than in the 24 hours, probably due to the high prevalence of cesarean sections, a factor associated with a lower chance of early BF. Continuous training of professionals about BF and the presence of an obstetric nurse during childbirth are recommended to expand BF in the first hour.

Objective: To descriptively analyze Brazilian parturient women who underwent previous cesarean section and point out the factors associated with Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) in Brazil., Methods: The study used data from women with one, two, or three or more cesarean sections from the survey Nascer no Brasil (Birth in Brazil). Differences between categories were assessed through the chi-square test (χ2). Variables with significant differences (p < 0.05) were incorporated into logistic regression., Findings: Out of the total of 23,894 women, 20.9% had undergone a previous cesarean section. The majority (85.1%) underwent another cesarean section, with 75.5% occurring before the onset of labor. The rate of Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) was 14.9%, with a success rate of 60.8%. Women who underwent three or more cesarean sections displayed greater social vulnerability. The chances of VBAC were higher among those who opted for a vaginal birth towards the end of gestation, had a prior vaginal birth, underwent labor induction, were admitted with over 4 centimeters of dilation, and without partner. Receiving care from the private health care system, having two or more prior cesarean sections, obstetric complications, and deciding on cesarean delivery late in gestation reduced the chances of VBAC. Age group, educational background, prenatal care adequacy, and the reason for the previous cesarean section did not result in significant differences., Conclusion: The majority of women who underwent a previous cesarean section in Brazil are directed towards another surgery, and a higher number of cesarean sections is linked to greater social inequality. Factors associated with VBAC included choosing vaginal birth towards the end of gestation, having had a previous vaginal birth, higher cervical dilation upon admission, induction, assistance from the public health care system, absence of obstetric complications, and without a partner. Efforts to promote VBAC are necessary to reduce overall cesarean rates and their repercussions on maternal and child health.

Main Results: From 2000 to 2020, maternal mortality among adolescents and young adults showed a decreasing trend in the state of Bahia. It could be seen an inverse and significant correlation between the highest number of prenatal care visits and maternal mortality in the studied groups., Implications for Services: The study suggests the importance of quality obstetric care during prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum period for reducing maternal mortality among adolescents and young adults, especially from preventable causes., Perspectives: Improving the records of causes of death on information systems, enhancing obstetric care, and investing in sexual and reproductive health policies aimed at adolescents may contribute to the reduction of maternal deaths., Objective: to analyze the temporal trend of maternal mortality and correlate it with prenatal care coverage among adolescents and young adults, state of Bahia, Brazil, 2000-2020., Methods: this was an ecological time-series study and correlation between maternal deaths and prenatal care visits in 10-19 and 20-24 age groups, using the Mortality Information System; the trend analysis was performed by means of Prais-Winsten regression, according to race/skin color, timing and causes of death; and Spearman coefficient was used for correlation., Results: in the study period, 418 deaths among adolescents and 574 among young adults were recorded; maternal mortality ratio was 59.7 and 63.2 deaths/100,000 live births, with a significant decreasing trend (-2.2% and -2.9% respectively); it could be seen an inverse correlation between a higher number of prenatal care visits and maternal mortality in the age groups., Conclusion: maternal mortality showed a decreasing trend in the study period, but with high proportions of death; there was a significant correlation between prenatal care coverage and maternal mortality among adolescents and young adults.

The scope of this article is to analyze the compliance of the care offered by Casa de Parto David Capistrano Filho-RJ with the recommendations of the National Guidelines for Care in Natural Childbirth. It involved a descriptive cross-sectional study with 952 observations, from 2014 to 2018. This included analysis of compliance using a judgment matrix and then classified as total compliance (≥75.0%), partial compliance (50.0%-74.9%), incipient compliance (49.9%-25.0%) and non-compliance (less than 24.9%). The results of the judgment matrix show that care in the aspects of labor, delivery and newborn care is in full compliance with the recommendations of the Guidelines. The care at the Casa de Parto Birth Center, conducted by obstetric nurses, follows the recommendations of the national guidelines, and has been seen to incorporate a de-medicalized, personalized form of care, which respects the physiology of childbirth. They also develop a model of their own technologies of care, constituting non-invasive technologies of obstetric nursing care.

This study aims to compare obstetric care in a birthing center and in hospitals of the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) considering good practices, interventions, and maternal and perinatal results in the Southeast Region of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with comparable retrospective data from two studies on labor and birth. A total of 1,515 puerperal women of usual risk of birthing centers and public hospitals in the Southeast region were included. Propensity score weighting was used to balance the groups according to the following covariates: age, skin-color, parity, membrane integrity, and cervix dilation at hospitalization. Logistic regressions were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) between the place of birth and outcomes. In birthing centers, compared to hospitals, the puerperal woman had a higher chance of having a companion (OR = 86.31; 95%CI: 29.65-251.29), eating or drinking (OR = 862.38; 95%CI: 120.20-6,187.33), walking around (OR = 7.56; 95%CI: 4.65-12.31), using non-pharmacological methods for pain relief (OR = 27.82; 95%CI: 17.05-45.40), being in an upright position (OR = 252.78; 95%CI: 150.60-423.33), and a lower chance of using oxytocin (OR = 0.22; 95%CI: 0.16-0.31), amniotomy (OR = 0.01; 95%CI: 0.01-0.04), episiotomy (OR = 0.01; 95%CI: 0.00-0.02), and Kristeller maneuvers (OR = 0.01; 95%CI: 0.00-0.02). Also, in birthing centers the newborn had a higher chance of exclusive breastfeeding (OR = 1.84; 95%CI: 1.16-2.90) and a lower chance of airway (OR = 0.24; 95%CI: 0.18-0.33) and gastric aspiration (OR = 0.15; 95%: 0.10-0.22). Thus, birthing centers offers a greater supply of good practices and fewer interventions in childbirth and birth care, with more safety and care without influence on the outcomes.

Objective: to analyze the characteristics and temporal trend of mortality rates in the population aged 5 to 14 years in Mato Grosso state and in Brazil, from 2009 to 2020., Methods: this was an ecological time-series study, based on data taken from the Mortality Information System. Descriptive and trend analyses were performed, using the joinpoint regression model and calculating the average annual percentage change (AAPC)., Results: in Brazil and in Mato Grosso state, deaths were predominantly male, preventable and due to external causes. A falling trend was identified for Brazil (5-9 years AAPC: -2.9; 95%CI -4.3;-1.6 and 10-14 years AAPC: -2.5; 95%CI -3.3;-1.8), while a stationary trend was found in Mato Grosso (5-9 years AAPC: -2.0; 95%CI -5.6;1.7 and 10-14 years AAPC: -0.1; 95%CI -5.9;6.1)., Conclusion: the stable trend of mortality at high levels demands urgent interventions to reduce it.

The present study aims to analyze the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with the recurrence of teenage pregnancy, as well as to verify the association with unfavorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. It is a cross-sectional study, based on data from "Nascer no Brasil", comprised of adolescent mothers and their newborns. Univariate and multiple logistic regression were used to indicate the factors associated with this recurrence. Recurrence of teenage pregnancy was associated with a maternal age of 17-19 years (OR=3.35; 95%CI=2.45-4.59); an inadequate education for their age (OR=4.34; 95%CI=3.50-5.39), with no intention of becoming pregnant; residency in the state capital; and the fact that the partner is the head of the family. However, as independent primiparous teenagers, there is a greater chance of hypertension and restricted intrauterine growth. It can therefore be concluded that there is a high percentage of teenage pregnancies in Brazil. Teenagers with a partner, inadequate education, and no reproductive planning are more likely to have two or more pregnancies before the age of 20, demonstrating difficulties in postponing the first pregnancy. However, as primiparous teenagers, they are more likely to have complications than multiparous teenagers.

The scope of this article is to evaluate the adequacy of total gestational weight gain (GWG) according to maternal characteristics of Brazilian adolescents. It involved a cross-sectional, hospital-based study. A total of 3,904 teenagers with a single fetus gestation and gestational age (GA) at birth ≥ 37 weeks were included. A hierarchical model was built to analyze the dependent and independent variables adequacy of GWG: sociodemographic, care, obstetric and behavioral characteristics. The chances of insufficient GWG were higher for adolescents from the North (OR = 1.50, 95%CI: 1.07-2.10) and Northeast (OR = 1.68, 95%CI: 1.27-2.21). Paid work increased the chances of insufficient (95%CI: 1.15-2.39) and excessive (95%CI: 1.01-1.86) GWG. The pre-pregnancy body mass index of overweight or obese adolescents was associated with excessive GWG (OR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.19-2.92 and OR = 3.06, 95%CI: 2.10-4.45, respectively), as well as GA ≥ 42 weeks (OR = 2.23, 95%CI: 1.03-4.81). Living in the North and Northeast regions increases the chances of adolescents having insufficient GWG. Having paid work was associated with a greater chance of excessive and insufficient GWG. Furthermore, pre-pregnancy excess weight or obesity and GA ≥ 42 weeks increased the chances of excessive GWG.

Objective: To identify the associated factors of neonatal near miss among newborns of Brazilian adolescents and to compare their occurrence in young women aged 12 to 16 years and 17 to 19 years., Method: Cross-sectional, hospital-based study, using data from the study Nascer no Brasil ("Birth in Brazil") on puerperal adolescents and their newborns in all regions of Brazil. Multiple and univariate logistic regression were employed to identify the associated factors of neonatal near miss., Results: The following factors were found to be associated to neonatal near miss among newborns of adolescent mothers: public source of payment (OR = 4.57, 95% CI = 2.02-10.32), having to seek help in different maternity hospitals (OR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.05-2.20), and maternal near miss (OR = 5.92; 95% CI = 1.94-18.05), in addition to a record of low weight in a previous pregnancy (OR = 3.12; 95% CI = 1.61-6.04) and twin pregnancy (OR = 7.49; 95% CI = 3.28-16.82)., Conclusion: Neonatal near miss affected newborns of adolescent mothers in both age groups equally. Also, the determinant factors of neonatal near miss can be mostly reduced with qualified prenatal, labor, and birth care.

The objective was to estimate the proportion of women with a full-time companion in Brazilian maternities linked to the Rede Cegonha (RC) and to compare them between the macro-regions in Brazil. A nationwide study, carried out from December/2016 to October/2017. 10,665 puerperal women from all regions of Brazil participated in the study, who gave birth at one of 606 maternity hospitals with a regional action plan approved by RC. Proportions and respective 95% confidence intervals were estimated, adjusted for the cluster effect, by comparing the macro-regions using Wald's chi-square test. The presence of a full-time companion occurred in 71.2% of maternities, being higher among women aged 20-35 years, brown-skinned, with higher education, married, and assisted in vaginal delivery. Almost 30% of puerperal women did not have a full-time companion. In the Southeast and Midwest regions, self-declared black women, with less schooling and unmarried women were less accompanied. The moment of delivery had less presence of the companion (29.2%). Despite the advances, this right is still not fully fulfilled, pointing to the occurrence of social inequities among Brazilian macro-regions.

Objective: To estimate the rate of the use of antenatal corticosteroids (ANC) among pregnant women and to identify the conditions associated with their non-use in Brazil., Methods: Secondary data analysis from "Birth in Brazil", a national hospital-based survey carried out in 2011-2012 on childbirth and birth. The sample was characterized regarding maternal age, marital status and maternal education, parity, mode of delivery and place of residence. The association of ANC use with gestational age and type of delivery was analyzed. The studied maternal complications were the presence of hypertension, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, and pyelonephritis, infection by the HIV virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome., Results: 2,623 pregnant women with less than 37 weeks of gestational age were identified, and, of these, 835 (31.8%) received ANC. The frequency of ANC use was higher among women with gestational ages between 26-34 weeks (481 cases; 48.73%). In pregnancies with less than 37 weeks, the use of ANC was 23.9% in spontaneous deliveries, 20.6% in induced deliveries and 43.8% among those who did not go into labor. The variables vaginal delivery (OR 2.5; 95%CI 1.8-3.4) and living in the countryside were associated with not using ANC, and the occurrence of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (OR 1.8; 95%CI 1.2-2.9) was associated with the use of ANC., Conclusions: The use of ANC among Brazilian pregnant women was low. Interventions to increase its use are necessary and can contribute to reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity. ANC should be promoted in pregnancies of less than 37 weeks, especially in cases of vaginal delivery and for those living in the countryside.