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Objectives To describe how overweight and wasting prevalence varies with age among children under 5 years in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods We used data from nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Overweight and wasting prevalence were defined as the proportions of children presenting mean weight for length/height (WHZ) more than 2 standard deviations above or below 2 standard deviations from the median value of the 2006 WHO standards, respectively. Descriptive analyses include national estimates of child overweight and wasting prevalence, mean, and standard deviations of WHZ stratified by age in years. National results were pooled using the population of children aged under 5 years in each country as weight. Fractional polynomials were used to compare mean WHZ with both overweight and wasting prevalence. Results Ninety national surveys from LMICs carried out between 2010 and 2019 were included. The overall prevalence of overweight declined with age from 6.3% for infants (aged 0–11 months) to 3.0% in 4 years olds (p = 0.03). In all age groups, lower prevalence was observed in low-income compared to upper-middle-income countries. Wasting was also more frequent among infants, with a slight decrease between the first and second year of life, and little variation thereafter. Lower-middle-income countries showed the highest wasting prevalence in all age groups. On the other hand, mean WHZ was stable over the first 5 years of life, but the median standard deviation for WHZ decreased from 1.39 in infants to 1.09 in 4-year-old children (p Conclusion The higher values of WHZ standard deviations in infants suggest that declining prevalence in overweight and wasting by age may be possibly due to measurement error or rapid crossing of growth channels by infants.

Background The global milk formula market has ‘boomed’ in recent decades, raising serious concerns for breastfeeding, and child and maternal health. Despite these developments, few studies have investigated the global expansion of the baby food industry, nor the market and political practices corporations have used to grow and sustain their markets. In this paper, our aim is to understand the strategies used by the baby food industry to shape ‘first-foods systems’ across its diverse markets, and in doing so, drive milk formula consumption on a global scale. We used a theoretically guided synthesis review method, which integrated diverse qualitative and quantitative data sources. Results Global milk formula sales grew from ~US$1.5 billion in 1978 to US$55.6 billion in 2019. This remarkable expansion has occurred along two main historical axes. First, the widening geographical reach of the baby food industry and its marketing practices, both globally and within countries, as corporations have pursued new growth opportunities, especially in the Global South. Second, the broadening of product ranges beyond infant formula, to include an array of follow-up, toddler and specialized formulas for a wider range of age groups and conditions, thereby widening the scope of mother-child populations subject to commodification. Sophisticated marketing techniques have been used to grow and sustain milk formula consumption, including marketing through health systems, mass-media and digital advertising, and novel product innovations backed by corporate science. To enable and sustain this marketing, the industry has engaged in diverse political practices to foster favourable policy, regulatory and knowledge environments. This has included lobbying international and national policy-makers, generating and deploying favourable science, leveraging global trade rules and adopting corporate policies to counter regulatory action by governments. Conclusion The baby food industry uses integrated market and political strategies to shape first-foods systems in ways that drive and sustain milk formula market expansion, on a global scale. Such practices are a major impediment to global implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, and other policy actions to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. New modalities of public health action are needed to negate the political practices of the industry in particular, and ultimately to constrain corporate power over the mother-child breastfeeding dyad.

The introduction of fluids other than breast milk during the first few days of life or later neonatal period has been identified as a risk factor for suboptimal breastfeeding (BF) outcomes in numerous studies using varying study designs. However, the relationship between early introduction of fluids other than breast milk and BF outcomes has not been systematically assessed using only prospective studies that can establish temporality, which is critical for determining whether observed associations are causal. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies to assess if there is a difference in BF outcomes as a result of the introduction of: (a) milk-based prelacteals, (b) water-based prelacteals and (c) breast milk substitutes (BMS) between 4 days and 4 weeks postpartum. We searched PubMed, Lilacs, Web of Science and other repositories for original research investigating the relationship between early introduction of prelacteals and/or BMS and BF outcomes. Forty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Of the 39 prelacteal feeding studies, 27 had the prerequisite statistical information for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Findings from the meta-analysis showed a relationship between prelacteals and exclusive BF cessation (RR 1.44; 1.29-1.60) and any BF cessation (2.23; 1.63-3.06) among infants under 6 months old. Nine studies focusing on the introduction of BMS during the neonatal period identified this practice as a statistically significant risk factor for a shorter BF duration. Effective interventions are needed to prevent the introduction of unnecessary milk-based prelacteals and BMS during the perinatal and neonatal periods to improve BF outcomes.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os fatores associados aos níveis pressóricos em gestantes participantes do Estudo MINA-Brasil, inscritas no pré-natal da Estratégia de Saúde da Família em Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Amazônia Ocidental Brasileira. Modelos múltiplos de regressão linear foram utilizados, adotando-se nível de significância de 5%. A maioria das gestantes participantes tinha média de idade de 24 anos (DP 6,3), 44,0% eram primigestas e 59,1% das gestantes apresentaram ganho de peso gestacional semanal excessivo. A ocorrência de hipertensão arterial foi de 0,7%. Os fatores associados positivamente aos níveis de pressão arterial sistólica foram: índice de massa corporal pré-gestacional (β = 0,984, IC95%: 0,768-1,200) e ganho de peso gestacional semanal (β = 6,816, IC95%: 3,368-10,264). Para os níveis de pressão arterial diastólica foram positivamente associados idade da gestante (β = 0,111, IC95%: 0,002-0,221), escolaridade (β = 2,194, IC95%: 0,779-3,609), índice de massa corporal pré-gestacional (β = 0,589, IC95%: 0,427-0,751) e ganho de peso gestacional semanal (β = 3,066, IC95%: 0,483-5,650). Esses resultados reforçam a necessidade de maior atenção pré-natal no cuidado materno para prevenção de distúrbios hipertensivos no final da gravidez.

Background In contrast with the ample literature on within- and between-country inequalities in breastfeeding practices, there are no multi-country analyses of socioeconomic disparities in breastmilk substitute (BMS) consumption in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective This study aimed to investigate between- and within-country socioeconomic inequalities in breastfeeding and BMS consumption in LMICs. Methods We examined data from the Demographic Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys conducted in 90 LMICs since 2010 to calculate Pearson correlation coefficients between infant feeding indicators and per capita gross domestic product (GDP). Within-country inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding, intake of formula or other types of nonhuman milk (cow/goat) were studied for infants aged 0–5 mo, and for continued breastfeeding at ages 12–15 mo through graphical presentation of coverage wealth quintiles. Results Between-country analyses showed that log GDP was inversely correlated with exclusive (r = −0.37, P < 0.001) and continued breastfeeding (r = −0.74, P < 0.0001), and was positively correlated with formula intake (r = 0.70, P < 0.0001). Continued breastfeeding was inversely correlated with formula (r = −0.79, P < 0.0001), and was less strongly correlated with the intake of other types of nonhuman milk (r = −0.40, P < 0.001). Within-country analyses showed that 69 out of 89 did not have significant disparities in exclusive breastfeeding. Continued breastfeeding was significantly higher in children belonging to the poorest 20% of households compared with the wealthiest 20% in 40 countries (by ∼30 percentage points on average), whereas formula feeding was more common in the wealthiest group in 59 countries. Conclusions BMS intake is positively associated with GDP and negatively associated with continued breastfeeding in LMICs. In most countries, BMS intake is positively associated with family wealth, and will likely become more widespread as countries develop. Urgent action is needed to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in all income groups and to reduce the intake of BMS, in light of the hazards associated with their use.

To describe the factors associated to stunting in &lt, 5-year-old Yanomami Brazilian children, and to evaluate the association of short maternal stature to their offspring’s stunting. A cross-sectional study carried out in three villages in the Yanomami territory. We performed a census, in which all households with children &lt, 5-years-old were included. The length/height-for-age z-score &lt, −2 standard deviations was used to classify the children as stunted. Short maternal height was defined as &lt, 145 cm for adult women, and &lt, −2 standard deviations of the height-for-age z-score for adolescent women. We used adjusted Poisson regression models to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) along the 90% confidence interval. We evaluated 298 children. 81.2% of children suffered from stunting and 71.9% of the mothers from short stature. In the bivariate analysis, a significant association of stunting with short maternal stature, gestational malaria and child’s place of birth were observed. Considering the variables of the children under five years of age, there were significant associations with age group, the child’s caregiver, history of malaria, pneumonia, and malnutrition treatment. In the adjusted hierarchical model, stunting was 1.22 times greater in the offspring of women with a short stature (90% CI: 1.07–1.38) compared to their counterparts. Brazilian Amazonian indigenous children living in a remote area displayed an alarming prevalence of stunting, and this was associated with short maternal height, reinforcing the hypothesis of intergenerational chronic malnutrition transmission in this population. In addition, children above 24 months of age, who were born in the village healthcare units and who had had previous treatment in the past for stunting presented higher rates of stunting in this study.

To investigate the occurrence and factors associated with common mental disorders in pregnancy and depressive symptoms in postpartum, as well as the association between both in the Brazilian Western Amazon.This is a prospective cohort in the MINA-Brazil study with women who received primary health care in the town of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre State. We performed two clinical evaluations during pregnancy (the first: 16-20 weeks; the second: 28 gestational weeks) and three postpartum evaluations (at 3, 6 and 12 months), in which demographic and socioeconomic, gestational, lifestyle and clinical data were collected. We used the Self-Reported Questionnaire (score ≥ 8) to screen the gestational common mental disorder and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (score ≥ 10) to identify postpartum depressive symptoms. We used adjusted ordinal logistic regression to investigate the relationship between the covariates and the occurrence of common mental disorders in pregnancy and postpartum depressive symptomatology.A total of 461 women completed the two clinical evaluations in pregnancy; of these, 247 completed the three postpartum evaluations. The occurrence of common mental disorder during pregnancy was 36.2% and 24.5% in the first and second evaluations, respectively, and the cumulative incidence was 9.2%. In addition, 50.3% maintained the disorder between evaluations. During postpartum, approximately 20% of the mothers presented depressive symptoms during the first year of their children's lives. Parity (≥ 2) was associated with common mental disorders, while low maternal education was associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. Women with a common mental disorder in both evaluations during pregnancy were 5.6 times more likely (95%CI: 2.50-12.60) to develop postpartum depressive symptoms.The occurrence of common mental disorder at any time assessed during pregnancy, but especially its persistence from the second trimester, was strongly associated with depressive symptoms after childbirth. These findings highlight the need for early screening and monitoring of the mental health of pregnant women at the start of prenatal care in order to reduce possible negative impacts on the health of the mother-child binomial caused by such events.

The inappropriate marketing and aggressive promotion of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) undermines breastfeeding and harms child and maternal health in all country contexts. Although a global milk formula ‘sales boom’ is reportedly underway, few studies have investigated its dynamics and determinants. This study takes two steps. First, it describes trends and patterns in global formula sales volumes (apparent consumption), by country income and region. Data are reported for 77 countries, for the years 2005–19, and for the standard (0–6 months), follow‐up (7‐12 m), toddler (13‐36 m), and special (0‐6 m) categories. Second, it draws from the literature to understand how transformations underway in first‐food systems – those that provision foods for children aged 0–36 months – explain the global transition to higher formula diets. Total world formula sales grew by 115% between 2005 and 2019, from 3.5 to 7.4 kg/child, led by highly‐populated middle‐income countries. Growth was rapid in South East and East Asia, especially in China, which now accounts for one third of world sales. This transition is linked with factors that generate demand for BMS, including rising incomes, urbanisation, the changing nature of woman's work, social norms, media influences and medicalisation. It also reflects the globalization of the baby food industry and its supply chains, including the increasing intensity and sophistication of its marketing practices. Policy and regulatory frameworks designed to protect, promote and support breastfeeding are partially or completely inadequate in the majority of countries, hence supporting industry expansion over child nutrition. The results raise serious concern for global child and maternal health.

Inadequate Vitamin A (VA) status during pregnancy has been associated with maternal anemia and suboptimal newborn birth weight (BW). We assessed the effect of gestational serum retinol and β-carotene (µmol/L), in different moments during pregnancy, on maternal hemoglobin (Hb, g/L) and anemia (Hb

Determining the predictors of serum retinol at mid-pregnancy is relevant for planning interventions aimed at improving vitamin A status of pregnant women and their offspring. This prospective study assessed predictors of serum retinol at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy. We enrolled 442 pregnant women living in the urban area of Cruzeiro do Sul, Western Brazilian Amazon. Demographic, socio-economic, environmental and clinical characteristics as well as obstetric history, anthropometric, dietary and biochemical data, including serum retinol, were gathered between 16 and 20 gestational weeks. Serum retinol also measured at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy (approximately 28 gestational weeks) was the outcome of interest. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate associations with the outcome. Overall, the following variables explained serum retinol at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy in the adjusted model (R2 = 11·1 %): seasonality (winter season – November to April; β=0·134; 95 % CI 0·063, 0·206), weekly consumption of Amazonian fruits (β=0·087; 95 % CI 0·012, 0·162) and retinol concentrations between 16 and 20 gestational weeks (β=0·045; 95 % CI 0·016, 0·074) were positively associated, whereas having a smoker in the house was negatively associated (β=–0·087; 95 % CI: –0·166, –0·009). Consumption of pro-vitamin A-rich fruits by pregnant women should be encouraged. Passive smoking may play a role in decreasing vitamin A status as a proxy of smoking exposure during pregnancy.

Previous analyses of trends in feeding indicators of children younger than 2 years have been limited to low-income and middle-income countries. We aimed to assess time trends in the consumption of different types of milk (breastmilk, formula, and animal milk) by children younger than 2 years from 2000 to 2019 at a global level.In this time-series analysis, we combined cross-sectional data from 487 nationally representative surveys from low-income and middle-income countries and information from high-income countries to estimate seven infant and young child feeding indicators in up to 113 countries. Multilevel linear models were used in pooled analyses to estimate annual changes in feeding practices from 2000 to 2019 for country income groups and world regions.For the absolute average annual changes, we found significant gains in any breastfeeding at age 6 months in high-income countries (1·29 percentage points [PPs] per year [95% CI 1·12 to 1·45]; p0·0001) and at age 1 year in high-income countries (1·14 PPs per year [0·99 to 1·28]; p0·0001) and upper-middle-income countries (0·53 PPs per year [0·23 to 0·82]; p0·0001). We also found a small reduction in low-income countries for any breastfeeding at age 6 months (-0·07 PPs per year [-0·11 to -0·03]; p0·0001) and age 1 year (-0·13 PPs per year [-0·18 to -0·09]; p0·0001). Data on exclusive breastfeeding and consumption of formula and animal milk were only available for low-income and middle-income countries, where exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life increased by 0·70 PPs per year (0·51-0·88; p0·0001) to reach 48·6% (41·9-55·2) in 2019. Exclusive breastfeeding increased in all world regions except for the Middle East and north Africa. Formula consumption in the first 6 months of life increased in upper-middle-income countries and in east Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and north Africa, and eastern Europe and central Asia, whereas the rates remained below 8% in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. Animal milk consumption by children younger than 6 months decreased significantly (-0·41 PPs per year [-0·51 to -0·31]; p0·0001) in low-income and middle-income countries.We found some increases in exclusive and any breastfeeding at age 6 months in various regions and income groups, while formula consumption increased in upper-middle-income countries. To achieve the global target of 70% exclusive breastfeeding by 2030, however, rates of improvement will need to be accelerated.BillMelinda Gates Foundation, through WHO.

Brazil is among the top ten countries in preterm delivery worldwide. This study assesses the factors associated with preterm birth in the Western Brazilian Amazon. A population-based cross-sectional study was held between July 2015 to June 2016 in Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazilian Amazon. A total of 1525 births were included in this analysis. Preterm birth was defined as births at gestational age 37 weeks. A stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with preterm delivery. The prevalence rate of preterm birth was 7.9% (

Background In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), low levels of formal maternal educational are positively associated with breastfeeding whereas the reverse is true among women with higher levels of formal education. As such, breastfeeding has helped to reduce health equity gaps between rich and poor children. Our paper examines trends in breastfeeding and formula consumption by maternal educational in LMICs over nearly two decades. Methods We used 319 nationally representative surveys from 81 countries. We used WHO definitions for breastfeeding indicators and categorized maternal education into three categories: none, primary, and secondary or higher. We grouped countries according to the World Bank income groups and UNICEF regions classifications. The trend analyses were performed through multilevel linear regression to obtain average absolute annual changes in percentage points. Results Significant increases in prevalence were observed for early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding across all education categories, but more prominently in women with no formal education for early breastfeeding and in higher level educated women for exclusive breastfeeding. Small decreases in prevalence were seen mostly for women with no formal education for continued breastfeeding at 1 and 2 years. Among formula indicators, only formula consumption between 6 and 23 months decreased significantly over the period for women with primary education. Analysis by world regions demonstrated that gains in early and exclusive breastfeeding were almost universally distributed among education categories, except in the Middle East and North Africa where they decreased throughout education categories. Continued breastfeeding at 1 and 2 years increased in South Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia for primary or higher education categories. Declines occurred for the group of no formal education in South Asia and nearly all education categories in the Middle East and North Africa with a decline steeper for continued breastfeeding at 2 years. With a few exceptions, the use of formula is higher among children of women at the highest education level in all regions. Conclusions Over the course of our study, women with no formal education have worsening breastfeeding indicators compared to women with primary and secondary or higher education.

Monitoring indicators of breastfeeding practices is important to protect and evaluate the progress of breastfeeding promotion efforts. However, high‐income countries lack standardized methodology to monitor their indicators. We aimed to update and summarize nationally representative annual estimates of breastfeeding indicators in high‐income countries and to describe methodological issues pertaining to the data sources used. A review was conducted through population‐based surveys with nationally representative samples or health reports from nationally representative administrative data of electronic surveys or medical records. Methodological aspects and rates of all breastfeeding indicators available were summarized by country. The median and annual growth of breastfeeding in percentage points within countries with time‐series data were estimated. Data from 51 out of 82 high‐income countries were identified. The data were obtained through surveys (n = 32) or administrative data (n = 19). Seventy‐one percent of countries have updated their indicators since 2015. Ever breastfed was the indicator most frequently reported (n = 46), with a median of 91%. By 6 months of age, the median equals 18% for exclusive and 45% for any breastfeeding. At 12 months, the median of continued breastfeeding decreased to 29%. The annual growth rate for ever breastfed, exclusive and any breastfeeding at 6 months and continued at 12 months varied from 1.5 to −2.0, 3.5 to −3.1, 5.0 to −1.0 and 5.0 to −1.9, respectively, with positive changes for most countries. Stronger interventions are needed to promote breastfeeding in high‐income countries as a whole, and investments are required to monitor trends with standardized methodologies.

Introduction: There are no global analyses of infant and young child feeding indicators that include high-, and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: Using data from 487 nationally representative surveys conducted in LMICs and from literature review of data from high-income countries (HIC), we report on seven indicators in up to 113 countries. National level trends were calculated and pooled by country income groups and regions of the world using multilevel linear models to estimate annual changes from 2000 to 2019. Findings: In the pooled analyses of LMICs, exclusive breastfeeding was the only indicator to show an increase, estimated at 0·70 percentage point per year (p.p.) (95% CI: 0·51,0·88). The increase was observed in all country income groups and regions of the world, except in the Middle East & North Africa. There were significant gains in breastfeeding at six months (0·59 p.p.) and at one year (0·53 p.p.) in upper-middle income countries and HICs (1·29 and 1·14 p.p., respectively), although levels remain below those observed in LMICs. Formula consumption increased in upper-middle income countries and in East Asia & Pacific, Latin America & Caribbean, Middle East & North Africa, and Eastern Europe & Central Asia, while remaining below 8% in SubSaharan Africa and South Asia. Animal milk consumption by children under 6 months significantly reduced (-0·41 p.p.) in LMICs. Interpretation: Gains in exclusive breastfeeding throughout the world, and in any breastfeeding at six and at one in HIC and upper-middle-income countries were observed at the same time that formula consumption in increasing in the latter. As a result, declining trends are observed in the consumption of animal milk. The target of 50% exclusive breastfeeding by 2025 will likely be achieved at global level, although there is variability by country and world regions. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background Adequate complementary feeding practices in early childhood contribute to better food preferences and health outcomes throughout the life course. Objectives The aim of this study was to describe patterns and socioeconomic inequalities in complementary feeding practices among children aged 6-23 mo in 80 low- and middle-income countries. Methods We analyzed national surveys carried out since 2010. Complementary feeding indicators for children aged 6-23 mo included minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD). Between- and within-country inequalities were documented using relative (wealth deciles), gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, and absolute (estimated household income) socioeconomic indicators. Statistical analyses included calculation of the slope index of inequality, Pearson correlation and linear regression, and scatter diagrams. Results Only 21.3%, 56.2%, and 10.1% of the 80 countries showed prevalence levels >50% for MDD, MMF, and MAD, respectively. Western & Central Africa showed the lowest prevalence for all indicators, whereas the highest for MDD and MAD was Latin America & Caribbean, and for MMF it was East Asia & the Pacific. Log GDP per capita was positively associated with MDD (R2 = 48.5%), MMF (28.2%), and MAD (41.4%). Pro-rich within-country inequalities were observed in most countries for the 3 indicators; pro-poor inequalities were observed in 2 countries for MMF, and in none for the other 2 indicators. Breast milk was the only type of food with a pro-poor distribution, whereas animal-source foods (dairy products, flesh foods, and eggs) showed the most pronounced pro-rich inequality. Dietary diversity improved sharply when absolute annual household incomes exceeded ∼US$20,000. All 3 dietary indicators improved by age and no consistent differences were observed between boys and girls. Conclusions Monitoring complementary feeding indicators across the world and implementing policies and programs to reduce wealth-related inequalities are essential to achieve optimal child nutrition.

BackgroundConsumption of breast milk substitutes (BMS) by children aged under six months in low and middle income countries (LMICs) is directly driven by country income and family wealth. Multi-country investigations on the consumption of BMS by older children (6–23 months) are lacking.MethodsUsing data from 86 nationally representative surveys carried out in LMICs from 2010 onwards, we analyzed the prevalence of continued breastfeeding at one and two years, and frequency of consumption of formula and other non-human milk by age in months. Indicators were estimated through 24-hour dietary recall. Absolute and relative wealth indicators were used to describe within- and between-country socioeconomic inequalities. Results were stratified by country income groups.FindingsBreastfeeding declined sharply as children became older in all LMICs, especially in upper-middle income countries. Formula consumption peaked at six months of age in low and lower-middle income countries, and at around 12 months in upper-middle income countries. Consumption of formula at any age higher in children from wealthier families in all countries, while breastfeeding was more common among poor children. Multilevel linear regression analysis showed that consumption of formula was positively associated while breastfeeding was negatively associated with absolute national income. Factors at country level explained a substantial proportion of overall variability in formula use and breastfeeding.InterpretationInfant and young child feeding practices vary strongly according to wealth, both within and between countries. Breastfeeding falls sharply as children become older, especially in wealthier families living in upper-middle income countries; this is also the group with highest formula consumption at any age. Country-level factors play an important role in explaining BMS consumption by all family wealth groups in LMICs, suggesting that formula marketing at national level may be partly responsible for the observed differences.FundingThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through the WHO

Objective: to investigate occurrence and risk factors for common mental disorders and perinatal depressive symptoms. Methods: an integrative literature review using CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, and LILACS, looking for studies conducted between 2014 and 2019. Data collection took place between June and July 2019. Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) were used in the search strategies employed in each database. Results: thirteen articles were included. Most studies were conducted in Brazil and with a cross-sectional design. The highest prevalence of common mental disorders (63%) and depressive symptoms (30%) were found in Brazilian studies. Conclusion: high frequencies were found for perinatal mental disorder, with emphasis on studies carried out in Brazil. Low socioeconomic status, being a single mother, history of mental disorder, unplanned pregnancy and multiparity were risk factors for the investigated disorders. RESUMEN Objetivo: investigar la aparición y los factores de riesgo de trastorno mental común y síntoma depresivo perinatal. Métodos: revisión integral de la literatura, utilizando las bases de datos CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO y LILACS, buscando estudios realizados entre 2014 y 2019. La recopilación de datos se produjo entre junio y julio de 2019. Descriptores en Ciencia de Health (DeCS) y Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) en las estrategias de búsqueda utilizadas en cada base de datos. Resultados: se incluyeron 13 artículos. La mayoría de los estudios se realizaron en Brasil y con un diseño transversal. Las prevalencias más altas de trastorno mental común (63%) y síntomas depresivos (30%) se encontraron en estudios brasileños. Conclusión: se encontraron altas frecuencias para el trastorno mental perinatal, con énfasis en estudios realizados en Brasil. El bajo nivel socioeconómico, ser madre soltera, antecedentes previos de trastorno mental, embarazo no planificado y multiparidad fueron factores de riesgo para los trastornos investigados. RESUMO Objetivo: investigar a ocorrência e os fatores de risco ao transtorno mental comum e sintoma depressivo perinatal. Métodos: revisão integrativa da literatura, sendo utilizadas as bases de dados CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO e LILACS, buscando estudos conduzidos entre 2014 e 2019. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre junho e julho de 2019. Foram utilizados os Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS) e os Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) nas estratégias de busca empregadas em cada base de dados. Resultados: foram incluídos 13 artigos. A maioria dos estudos foi conduzido no Brasil e com delineamento transversal. As maiores prevalências de transtorno mental comum (63%) e de sintoma depressivo (30%) foram encontradas em estudos brasileiros. Conclusão: foram encontradas elevadas frequências para transtorno mental perinatal, com destaque para os estudos realizados no Brasil. Baixo nível socioeconômico, ser mãe solteira, história pregressa de transtorno mental, gravidez não planejada e multiparidade foram fatores de risco aos transtornos investigados.

More than 125 million pregnant women are globally at risk of malaria each year.1 Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) is associated with a wide range of adverse outcomes for the mother, the fetus, and the neonate. In fact, stillbirth, miscarriage, low birth weight (LBW) caused by either intrauterine growth restriction or preterm birth, increased neonatal and maternal mortality, and reduced growth and neurocognitive function in early childhood are all well-known MiP complications.2 The public health burden of MiP has been mostly investigated in malaria-endemic settings dominated by Plasmodium falciparum across Africa, Asia, and the Southwest Pacific.2–4 The clinical implications of malaria during pregnancy remain understudied in low-endemicity regions where Plasmodium vivax predominates, such as Latin America.2,5,6 This is partially due to the fact that infections with P. vivax are believed to cause less severe clinical consequences in pregnant women than those with P. falciparum, although an increased risk of LBW and anemia associated with infection has been documented in large studies.2,5,7–10 Erythrocytes parasitized with the former species do not sequester massively in the intervillous spaces as they do in P. falciparum infections,11,12 but some MiP-associated histological changes in the placenta, such as syncytial knotting and increased thickness of the placental barrier, have been recently documented in Brazil12,13 and may affect fetal nutrition and growth because of impaired transport and secretory functions.14 Because primaquine (PQ) cannot be administered during pregnancy,15 repeated MiP episodes due to P. vivax hypnozoite reactivation are relatively common and may adversely affect birth outcomes. The 6,000–9,000 laboratory-confirmed MiP cases that are officially notified in Brazil each year, more than two-thirds of them caused by P. vivax, represent 4–6% of all malaria cases in the country.16 More than 99% of these cases occur in the Amazon.16 Intermittent preventive treatment during antenatal care visits is not recommended in this country, but pregnant women from malaria-endemic areas of Brazil must be screened for malaria parasites by conventional microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests at every antenatal care visit and receive supervised antimalarial treatment whenever infection is laboratory-confirmed.15 However, antenatal care providers often fail to perceive MiP as a major preventable and treatable cause of morbidity in pregnant women and their offspring, and routine prenatal malaria testing, although formally recommended by the Ministry of Health, remains infrequent.17 Moreover, available diagnostics often fail to detect peripheral parasitemias at delivery, either symptomatic or not, that are later diagnosed by more sensitive molecular methods,18 further contributing to MiP underreporting. Here, we investigated the burden of MiP in Jurua Valley, the main residual malaria hotspot in Brazil, where P. vivax is the dominant malaria parasite species. We combine microscopy-based diagnosis throughout pregnancy with molecular diagnosis at delivery to measure MiP prevalence and estimate its impact on fetal growth and maternal anemia in the largest Amazonian sample of malaria-exposed pregnant women thus far studied.

Inadequate pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG) have been associated with sub-optimal child development. We used data from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study. Maternal anthropometry was extracted from antenatal/hospital records. BMI (kg/m2) and GWG (kg) adequacy were classified according to WHO and IOM, respectively. Development was evaluated using the INTER-NDA assessment tool for 3,776 children aged 24 months. Suspected developmental delay (SDD) was defined as

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether weekly gestational weight gain is associated with anemia, vitamin A insufficiency, and blood pressure levels in the third trimester of pregnancy. METHODS A prospective study with 457 pregnant women attending primary care in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre. The weekly gestational weight gain rate measured between the second and third trimesters was classified as insufficient, adequate, and excessive according to the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine 2009. The outcomes at the beginning of the third gestational trimester were: anemia (Hb < 110 g/L), vitamin A insufficiency (serum retinol

RESUMO: Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da suplementação com vitamina A (VA) em gestantes e puérperas adultas no Brasil sobre o teor de VA e imunoglobulina A secretora (IgAS) do colostro e leite materno, nas condições de saúde infantil e no status de VA do binômio mãe-filho. Métodos: Realizou-se uma busca eletrônica nas bases MEDLINE, Scopus , Web of Science e Lilacs por estudos publicados entre janeiro de 2000 e janeiro de 2014. A qualidade metodológica dos estudos foi avaliada conforme a escala de Jadad. A busca pelas publicações ocorreu em janeiro de 2014 de forma independente por dois autores. Resultados: Encontraram-se sete estudos sobre os efeitos da suplementação com VA no puerpério sobre leite materno e morbidade infantil. Nenhum estudo com suplementação em gestantes foi detectado. A suplementação no puerpério elevou o teor de retinol no leite materno, aumentando a oferta de VA para a criança, e também a concentração de IgAS no colostro. Efeitos sobre a redução na morbidade infantil não foram descritos. Conclusão: Constata-se que os benefícios descritos sobre a suplementação no pós-parto ainda não foram completamente evidenciados no programa brasileiro, embora a suplementação contribua para a melhora do estado nutricional de VA da criança e da puérpera e na oferta da vitamina, pelo leite materno, ao recém-nascido. ABSTRACT: Objective: To assess the impact of vitamin A supplementation on adult pregnant and puerperal women in Brazil regarding the content of vitamin A and secretory immunoglobulin A on colostrum and breast milk, in child's health conditions, and in mother-child binomial vitamin A status. Methods: A research was conducted in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Lilacs electronic databases for the studies published between January 2000 and January 2014. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed according to Jadad scale. The study search was conducted in January 2014, independently by two authors. Results: Seven studies were found concerning the effects of vitamin A supplementation in the puerperal period on breast milk and infant morbidity. No study regarding pregnant women supplementation was found. The supplementation in the puerperal period raised the retinol content on breast milk, thus increasing the offer of vitamin A for the child and the concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A on colostrum. There was no description of effects on infant morbidity. Conclusion: It seems that the advantages of postpartum supplementation were not established in the Brazilian program, although the supplementation contributes to a better nutritional status of vitamin A for both the child and the puerperal woman and increases the offer of vitamin A for the newborn through the breast milk.

This study aimed to assess agreement between antenatal estimates of gestational age by ultrasound and clinical records at birth in the Brazilian Amazon. Ultrasound examinations were scheduled during the second trimester for 578 pregnant women prospectively screened at primary health care units, following a standardized protocol for image quality control. A multistage algorithm was used to assess the best estimate of gestational age during the antenatal period, considering reliability of last menstrual period (LMP) and acceptable differences in relation to ultrasound estimates derived from fetal biparietal diameter and femur length. Agreement of antenatal estimates of gestational age confirmed by ultrasound and clinical records at birth was analyzed with Bland-Altman plots and kappa coefficients (preterm and postterm births). Overall, ultrasound examinations presented high quality (>90% of satisfactory images), and were adopted as the best estimate of gestational age among 83.4% of pregnant women, confirming reliable LMP in the remaining proportion. On average, difference in gestational age between antenatal estimates and clinical records was 0.43 week (95% CI: 0.32, 0.53). Classification of preterm births had a good agreement (kappa: 0.82, p11 years of education and cases of caesarean deliveries. In conclusion, high-quality ultrasound images from the second trimester of pregnancy based the assessment of gestational age, while reliability of LMP was limited. Information from clinical records at birth presented an acceptable agreement on average and for classification of preterm births, which is relevant for properly interpreting perinatal outcomes. Discrepancies in caesarean deliveries may warrant further investigation.

We measured the prevalence of malaria in pregnancy and estimated its impact on birth weight and length and maternal hemoglobin in 1,180 women from Juruá Valley, the main malaria hotspot in Brazil. Antenatal malaria episodes, 74.6% of them due to Plasmodium vivax, were microscopically diagnosed in 8.0% of the women and were associated with an average reduction in birth weight z-scores of 0.35 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.14–0.57) and in birth length z-scores of 0.31 (95% CI = 0.08–0.54), compared with malaria-free pregnancies. Affected mothers had a mean decrease in hemoglobin concentration at delivery of 0.33 g/100 mL (95% CI = 0.05–0.62 g/100 mL); 51.6% were anemic. The timing and frequency of antenatal infections influenced pregnancy outcomes and first- or second-trimester infections were not associated with decreased birth weight and length and maternal hemoglobin at delivery. Although repeated antenatal vivax infections were associated with poorer birth outcomes, even a single vivax malaria episode was associated with a significant reduction in birth weight and length and maternal hemoglobin. Overall, 7.5% women had the parasite’s DNA found in peripheral blood at delivery. Most (83.1%) of these 89 perinatal infections were due to P. vivax and only 7.9% of them progressed to symptomatic disease after delivery. Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum DNA was found in 0.6% and 0.3% of 637 cord blood samples examined, respectively, but only one newborn developed clinical neonatal malaria. Our results further challenge the notion that vivax malaria is relatively benign during pregnancy and call for better strategies for its prevention.

ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence and determinants of gestational night blindness in pregnant women receiving care in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.DesignCross-sectional study of pregnant and postpartum women receiving care in a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro from 1999 to 2001 (group I; n 225) or from 2005 to 2008 (group II; n 381). Night blindness was identified through a standardized and validated interview (WHO, 1996). The determinants of gestational night blindness were identified through a hierarchical logistic regression model.SettingPublic maternity hospital in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.SubjectsAdult pregnant and postpartum women (n 606), aged ≥20 years.ResultsThe prevalence of gestational night blindness was 9·9 %. The final model revealed that not living in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro (distal level: adjusted OR=1·846; 95 % CI 1·002, 3·401), belonging to group I (intermediate level: adjusted OR=2·183; 95 % CI 1·066, 4·471) and for the proximal level, having a history of abortion (adjusted OR=2·840; 95 % CI 1·134, 7·115) and having anaemia during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy (adjusted OR=3·776; 95 % CI 1·579, 9·029) were determinants of gestational night blindness.ConclusionGestational night blindness should be assessed for during the prenatal care of all pregnant women, especially those living in deprived areas of the city and/or who have a history of abortion or anaemia. Nutritional monitoring is recommended during pregnancy to control gestational night blindness.