Search

Abstract The number of studies published on postnatal microcephaly in children with Congenital Zika Syndrome is small, clinical presentations vary and aspects of the evolution of these children remain unclarified. The present case series examined clinical characteristics and assessed the growth velocity of the head circumference, weight and height Z-scores in 23 children who developed postnatal microcephaly during follow-up in the Microcephaly Epidemic Research Group Pediatric Cohort. To estimate the change in the head circumference, weight and height Z-scores over time and compare the mean difference between sexes, we used multilevel mixed-effects linear regressions with child-specific random effects. Among these children, 60.9% (n = 14/23) presented with craniofacial disproportion, 60.9% (n = 14/23) with strabismus, 47.8% (n = 11/23) with early onset seizures, 47.8% (n = 11/23) with dysphagia and 43.5% (n = 10/23) with arthrogryposis. Of the 82.7% (n = 19/23) children who underwent neuroimaging, 78.9% (n = 15/19) presented with alterations in the central nervous system. Monthly growth velocity, expressed in Z-scores, of the head circumference was − 0.098 (95% CI % − 0.117 to − 0.080), of weight was: − 0.010 (95%-CI − 0.033 to 0.014) and of height was: − 0.023 (95%-CI − 0.046 to 0.0001). Postnatal microcephaly occurred mainly in children who had already presented with signs of severe brain damage at birth; there was variability in weight and height development, with no set pattern.

Abortion, particularly when illegal, highlights inequities in different populations. Although abortion-related mortality is lower compared to other obstetric causes, abortion complications tend to be more lethal. Delays in seeking and obtaining care are determinants of negative outcomes. This study, nested within the GravSus-NE, analyzed healthcare delays and their association with abortion-related complications in three cities of northeastern Brazil (Salvador, Recife and São Luís). Nineteen public maternity hospitals were involved. All eligible women ≥18 years old hospitalized between August and December 2010 were evaluated. Descriptive, stratified and multivariate analyses were performed. Youden's index was used to determine delay. One model was created with all the women and another with those admitted in good clinical conditions, thus determining complications that occurred during hospitalization and their associated factors. Of 2,371 women, most (62.3%) were ≤30 years old (median 27 years) and 89.6% reported being black or brown-skinned. Most (90.5%) were admitted in good condition, 4.0% in fair condition and 5.5% in poor/very poor condition. Median time between admission and uterine evacuation was 7.9 hours. After a cut-off time of 10 hours, the development of complications increased considerably. Black women and those admitted during nightshifts were more likely to experience a wait time ≥10 hours. Delays were associated with severe complications (OR 1.97; 95%CI: 1.55-2.51), including in the women admitted in good condition (OR 2,56; 95%CI: 1.85-3.55), and even following adjustment for gestational age and reported abortion type (spontaneous/induced). These findings corroborate the literature, highlighting the social vulnerability of women hospitalized within Brazil's public healthcare system in a situation of abortion. The study strongpoints include having objectively measured the time between admission and uterine evacuation and having established a cut-off time defining delay based on conceptual and epidemiological criteria. Further studies should evaluate other settings and new measurement tools for effectively preventing life-threatening complications.

As complicações do aborto são um importante problema de saúde pública e pesquisas para avaliar a qualidade da atenção requerem ferramentas de aferição adequadas. Este estudo dá sequência ao processo de refinamento de um instrumento para esse fim - QualiAborto-Pt. Utilizando-se dados de um inquérito com 2.336 mulheres internadas por complicações do aborto em 19 hospitais de três capitais do Nordeste brasileiro (Salvador - Bahia, Recife - Pernambuco e São Luís - Maranhão), implementou-se uma sequência de análises fatoriais exploratórias e confirmatórias com base em um protótipo de 55 itens. As análises apontam para uma estrutura de 17 itens em cinco dimensões: acolhimento, orientação, insumos/ambiente físico, qualidade técnica e continuidade do cuidado. Todos os itens do modelo final evidenciam confiabilidade aceitável, ausência de redundância de conteúdo, especificidade fatorial, e guardam coerência teórica com as respectivas dimensões. A solução também mostra validade fatorial discriminante. Ainda que persistam algumas questões a aprofundar e acertar, esta versão merece ser recomendada para uso no Brasil.

Global concern broke out in late 2015 as thousands of children in Brazil were born with microcephaly, which was quickly linked to congenital infection with Zika virus (ZIKV). ZIKV is now known to cause a wider spectrum of severe adverse outcomes—congenital Zika syndrome (CZS)—and also milder impairments. This study aimed to explore the social and economic impacts of CZS in Brazil. Data was collected through mixed methods across two settings: Recife City and Jaboatão dos Guararapes in Pernambuco State (the epicentre of the epidemic), and the city of Rio de Janeiro (where reports of ZIKV infection and CZS were less frequent). Data was collected May 2017-January 2018. Ethical standards were adhered to throughout the research. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with: mothers and other carers of children with CZS (approximately 30 per setting), pregnant women (10-12 per setting), men and women of child-bearing age (16-20 per setting), and health professionals (10-12 per setting). Thematic analysis was undertaken independently by researchers from at least two research settings, and these were shared for feedback. A case-control study was undertaken to quantitatively explore social and economic differences between caregivers of a child with CZS (cases) and caregivers with an unaffected child (controls). We aimed to recruit 100 cases and 100 controls per setting, from existing studies. The primary caregiver, usually the mother, was interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect information on: depression, anxiety, stress, social support, family quality of life, health care and social service use, and costs incurred by families. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to compare outcomes for cases and controls. Costs incurred as a result of CZS were estimated from the perspective of the health system, families and society. Modelling was undertaken to estimate the total economic burden of CZS from those three perspectives.

BackgroundZika virus (ZIKV) infection in pregnancy can cause microcephaly and a wide spectrum of severe adverse outcomes, collectively called "Congenital Zika Syndrome" (CZS). Parenting a child with disabilities can have adverse mental health impacts, but these associations have not been fully explored in the context of CZS in Brazil.Methodology/principal findingsA cross-sectional study was undertaken in Recife and Rio de Janeiro, including 163 caregivers of a child with CZS (cases) and 324 caregivers with an unaffected child (comparison subjects), identified from existing studies. The primary caregiver, almost always the mother, was interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect information on: depression, anxiety, and stress (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-DASS-21), social support (Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale-MOS-SSS), and socio-demographic data. Data was collected May 2017-January 2018. Ethical standards were adhered to throughout the research. A high proportion of mothers reported experiencing severe or extremely severe levels of depression (18%), anxiety (27%) and stress (36%). Mothers of children with CZS were more likely to experience symptoms of depression, anxiety andstress, compared to mothers of comparison children. These associations were more apparent among mothers living in Rio de Janeiro. These differences were reduced after adjustment for socio-economic status and social support. Among mothers of children with CZS, low social support was linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress, but there was no association with socio-economic status.Conclusions/significanceDepression, anxiety and stress were very common among mothers of young children in Brazil, regardless of whether they were parenting a child with disabilities. Mothers of children with CZS may be particularly vulnerable to poor mental health, and this association may be buffered through better social support.

This cohort profile aims to describe the ongoing follow-up of children in the Microcephaly Epidemic Research Group Paediatric Cohort (MERG–PC). The profile details the context and aims of the study, study population, methodology including assessments, and key results and publications to date. The children that make up MERG–PC were born in Recife or within 120 km of the city, in Pernambuco/Brazil, the epicentre of the microcephaly epidemic. MERG–PC includes children from four groups recruited at different stages of the ZIKV microcephaly epidemic in Pernambuco, i.e., the Outpatient Group (OG/n = 195), the Microcephaly Case–Control Study (MCCS/n = 80), the MERG Pregnant Women Cohort (MERG-PWC/n = 336), and the Control Group (CG/n = 100). We developed a comprehensive array of clinical, laboratory, and imaging assessments that were undertaken by a ‘task force’ of clinical specialists in a single day at 3, 6, 12, 18 months of age, and annually from 24 months. Children from MCCS and CG had their baseline assessment at birth and children from the other groups, at the first evaluation by the task force. The baseline cohort includes 711 children born between February 2015 and February 2019. Children’s characteristics at baseline, excluding CG, were as follows: 32.6% (184/565) had microcephaly, 47% (263/559) had at least one physical abnormality, 29.5% (160/543) had at least one neurological abnormality, and 46.2% (257/556) had at least one ophthalmological abnormality. This ongoing cohort has contributed to the understanding of the congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) spectrum. The cohort has provided descriptions of paediatric neurodevelopment and early epilepsy, including EEG patterns and treatment response, and information on the frequency and characteristics of oropharyngeal dysphagia; cryptorchidism and its surgical findings; endocrine dysfunction; and adenoid hypertrophy in children with Zika-related microcephaly. The study protocols and questionnaires were shared across Brazilian states to enable harmonization across the different studies investigating microcephaly and CZS, providing the opportunity for the Zika Brazilian Cohorts Consortium to be formed, uniting all the ZIKV clinical cohorts in Brazil.

The congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) epidemic in Brazil turned the spotlight on many other factors beyond illness, such as poverty, gender, and inequalities in health care. Women were the emblematic subjects in this study, not only because Zika virus is a vertical transmission disease, but also because women—in Brazil and elsewhere—typically represent the primary carers of children. This is a qualitative analytic study using semi-structured interviews with 23 female family carers of children with CZS in Brazil. Through the concept of biographical disruption, we analysed some of the social impacts experienced by women involved in caring for affected children. We identified that the arrival of a child with disabilities resulted in biographical disruption similar to that experienced by people with chronic illnesses. Social support networks were configured through an alliance between women from different generations, revealing solidarity networks, but also highlighting the absence of the state in tackling these social vulnerabilities. Tracing the pathways of these biographical narratives enables us to understand how women have acted to defend the value of their disabled children in a society structured on the model of body normativity and inequality. These results may provide clues to a more inclusive society, which confronts systems of gender oppression and the sexual division of labour focused on women.

Zika Preparedness Latin American Network (ZikaPLAN) is a research consortium funded by the European Commission to address the research gaps in combating Zika and to establish a sustainable network with research capacity building in the Americas. Here we present a report on ZikaPLAN`s mid-term achievements since its initiation in October 2016 to June 2019, illustrating the research objectives of the 15 work packages ranging from virology, diagnostics, entomology and vector control, modelling to clinical cohort studies in pregnant women and neonates, as well as studies on the neurological complications of Zika infections in adolescents and adults. For example, the Neuroviruses Emerging in the Americas Study (NEAS) has set up more than 10 clinical sites in Colombia. Through the Butantan Phase 3 dengue vaccine trial, we have access to samples of 17,000 subjects in 14 different geographic locations in Brazil. To address the lack of access to clinical samples for diagnostic evaluation, ZikaPLAN set up a network of quality sites with access to well-characterized clinical specimens and capacity for independent evaluations. The International Committee for Congenital Anomaly Surveillance Tools was formed with global representation from regional networks conducting birth defects surveillance. We have collated a comprehensive inventory of resources and tools for birth defects surveillance, and developed an App for low resource regions facilitating the coding and description of all major externally visible congenital anomalies including congenital Zika syndrome. Research Capacity Network (REDe) is a shared and open resource centre where researchers and health workers can access tools, resources and support, enabling better and more research in the region. Addressing the gap in research capacity in LMICs is pivotal in ensuring broad-based systems to be prepared for the next outbreak. Our shared and open research space through REDe will be used to maximize the transfer of research into practice by summarizing the research output and by hosting the tools, resources, guidance and recommendations generated by these studies. Leveraging on the research from this consortium, we are working towards a research preparedness network.

Abstract: Around 18 million unsafe abortions occur in low and middle-income countries and are associated with numerous adverse consequences to women’s health. The time taken by women with complications to reach facilities where they can receive appropriate post-abortion care can influence the risk of death and the extent of further complications. All women aged 18+ admitted for abortion complications to public-sector hospitals in three capital cities in the Northeastern Brazil between August-December 2010 were interviewed; medical records were extracted (N = 2,804). Nearly all women (94%) went straight to a health facility, mainly to a hospital (76.6%); the rest had various care-seeking paths, with a quarter visiting 3+ hospitals. Women waited 10 hours on average before deciding to seek care. 29% reported difficulties in starting to seek care, including facing challenges in organizing childcare, a companion or transport (17%) and fear/stigma (11%); a few did not initially recognize they needed care (0.4%). The median time taken to arrive at the ultimate facility was 36 hours. Over a quarter of women reported experiencing difficulties being admitted to a hospital, including long waits (15%), only being attended after pregnant women (8.9%) and waiting for a bed (7.4%). Almost all women (90%) arrived in good condition, but those with longer delays were more likely to have (mild or severe) complications. In Brazil, where access to induced abortion is restricted, women face numerous difficulties receiving post-abortion care, which contribute to delay and influence the severity of post-abortion complications.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the association between unintended pregnancy and postpartum depression. METHODS This is a prospective cohort study conducted with 1,121 pregnant aged 18 to 49 years, who attended the prenatal program devised by the Brazilian Family Health Strategy, Recife, PE, Northeastern Brazil, between July 2005 and December 2006. We interviewed 1,121 women during pregnancy and 1,057 after childbirth. Unintended pregnancy was evaluated during the first interview and postpartum depression symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screening Scale. The crude and adjusted odds ratios for the studied association were estimated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The frequency for unintended pregnancy was 60.2%; 25.9% presented postpartum depression symptoms. Those who had unintended pregnancies had a higher likelihood of presenting this symptoms, even after adjusting for confounding variables (OR = 1.48; 95%CI 1.09;2.01). When the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) variable was included, the association decreased, however, remained statistically significant (OR = 1.42; 95%CI 1.03;1.97). CONCLUSIONS Unintended pregnancy showed association with subsequent postpartum depressive symptoms. This suggests that high values in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screening Scale may result from unintended pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the incidence and identify risk factors for intimate partner violence during postpartum.METHODS This prospective cohort study was conducted with women, aged between 18-49 years, enrolled in the Brazilian Family Health Strategy in Recife, Northeastern Brazil, between 2005 and 2006. Of the 1.057 women interviewed during pregnancy and postpartum, 539 women, who did not report violence before or during pregnancy, were evaluated. A theoretical-conceptual framework was built with three levels of factors hierarchically ordered: women’s and partners’ sociodemografic and behavioral characteristics, and relationship dynamics. Incidence and risk factors of intimate partner violence were estimated by Poisson Regression.RESULTS The incidence of violence during postpartum was 9.3% (95%CI 7.0;12.0). Isolated psychological violence was the most common (4.3%; 95%CI 2.8;6.4). The overlapping of psychological with physical violence occurred at 3.3% (95%CI 2.0;5.3) and with physical and/or sexual in almost 2.0% (95%CI 0.8;3.0) of cases. The risk of partner violence during postpartum was increased for women with a low level of education (RR = 2.6; 95%CI 1.3;5.4), without own income (RR = 1.7; 95%CI 1.0;2.9) and those who perpetrated physical violence against their partner without being assaulted first (RR = 2.0; 95%CI 1.2;3.4), had a very controlling partner (RR = 2.5; 95%CI 1.1;5.8), and had frequent fights with their partner (RR = 1.7; 95%CI 1.0;2.9).CONCLUSIONS The high incidence of intimate partner violence during postpartum and its association with aspects of the relationship’s quality between the couple, demonstrated the need for public policies that promote conflict mediation and enable forms of empowerment for women to address the cycle of violence.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To estimate differential associations between the exposure to violence in the family of origin and victimization and perpetration of intimate partner violence in pregnancy. METHODS A nested case-control study was carried out within a cohort study with 1,120 pregnant women aged 18–49 years old, who were registered in the Family Health Strategy of the city of Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, between 2005 and 2006. The cases were the 233 women who reported intimate partner violence in pregnancy and the controls were the 499 women who did not report it. Partner violence in pregnancy and previous experiences of violence committed by parents or other family members were assessed with a standardized questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were modeled to identify differential associations between the exposure to violence in the family of origin and victimization and perpetration of intimate partner violence in pregnancy. RESULTS Having seen the mother suffer intimate partner violence was associated with physical violence in childhood (OR = 2.62; 95%CI 1.89–3.63) and in adolescence (OR = 1.47; 95%CI 1.01–2.13), sexual violence in childhood (OR = 3.28; 95%CI 1.68–6.38) and intimate partner violence during pregnancy (OR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.01 – 2.12). The intimate partner violence during pregnancy was frequent in women who reported more episodes of physical violence in childhood (OR = 2.08; 95%CI 1.43–3.02) and adolescence (OR = 1.63; 95%CI 1.07–2.47), who suffered sexual violence in childhood (OR = 3.92; 95%CI 1.86–8.27), and who perpetrated violence against the partner (OR = 8.67; 95%CI 4.57–16.45). CONCLUSIONS Experiences of violence committed by parents or other family members emerge as strong risk factors for intimate partner violence in pregnancy. Identifying and understanding protective and risk factors for the emergence of intimate partner violence in pregnancy and its maintenance may help policymakers and health service managers to develop intervention strategies.

OBJECTIVE : To investigate the association between common mental disorders and intimate partner violence during pregnancy. METHODS : A cross sectional study was carried out with 1,120 pregnant women aged 18-49 years old, who were registered in the Family Health Program in the city of Recife, Northeastern Brazil, between 2005 and 2006. Common mental disorders were assessed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Intimate partner violence was defined as psychologically, physically and sexually abusive acts committed against women by their partners. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were estimated for the association studied utilizing logistic regression analysis. RESULTS : The most common form of partner violence was psychological. The prevalence of common mental disorders was 71.0% among women who reported all form of violence in pregnancy and 33.8% among those who did not report intimate partner violence. Common mental disorders were associated with psychological violence (OR 2.49, 95%CI 1.8;3.5), even without physical or sexual violence. When psychological violence was combined with physical or sexual violence, the risk of common mental disorders was even higher (OR 3.45; 95%CI 2.3;5.2). CONCLUSIONS : Being assaulted by someone with whom you are emotionally involved can trigger feelings of helplessness, low self-esteem and depression. The pregnancy probably increased women`s vulnerability to common mental disorders

This study investigated the association between unintended pregnancy and intimate partner violence before pregnancy. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 1,054 women, aged 18 to 49, in Recife, Northeastern Brazil, from July 2005 to March 2006. Non-conditional logistic regression analysis was performed with a hierarchical strategy for entering variables into the model, according to the conceptual framework defined. Unintended pregnancy was reported by 60.3% (636) women. Intimate partner violence prior to the pregnancy was associated with unintended pregnancy (ORadj = 1.57; 95%CI: 1.17-2.11), even when adjusted for the women's sociodemographic characteristics, the partner's behaviour, and the relationship dynamic. When the association was adjusted for the use of contraception and the partner's refusal to use contraception, the association was no longer significant, suggesting that the effect of partner violence on unintended pregnancy may be mediated by these variables. The findings point to the need of screening for intimate partner violence in reproductive health services.

OBJETIVO: Descrever as formas de enfrentamento à violência física adotadas por mulheres agredidas por parceiro íntimo. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado na linha de base de estudo de coorte, com gestantes cadastradas no Programa Saúde da Família, entre julho de 2005 e março de 2006, em Recife, PE. Foram selecionadas 283 gestantes de 18 a 49 anos com histórico de violência física pelo parceiro de então ou mais recente antes e/ou durante a gestação. As entrevistas foram realizadas face a face, com questionário estruturado e pré-codificado, e realizou-se análise descritiva. Foi coletada informação sobre características sociodemográficas das mulheres, tipos e gravidade da violência física cometida pelo parceiro, formas de enfrentamento da violência, pessoas e serviços de apoio procurados pelas mulheres, motivos para a mulher ter alguma vez abandonado e retornado a casa em razão da violência. RESULTADOS: Das mulheres que sofreram violência física pelo parceiro íntimo, 57,6% conversaram com alguém, 3,5% procuraram ajuda institucionalizada, 17,3% conversaram e procuraram ajuda institucionalizada e 21,6% não procuraram nenhuma forma de ajuda. As pessoas mais procuradas foram os pais (42,0%), amigo/amiga (31,6%) e irmão/irmã (21,2%). Os serviços mais procurados pelas mulheres foram: polícia/delegacia (57,6%), serviços de saúde (27,1%) e instituições religiosas (25,4%). Relataram não ter obtido qualquer tipo de ajuda 44,8% das mulheres; 32,1% disseram ter saído de casa alguma vez na vida, pelo menos por uma noite, das quais 5,9% não retornaram a casa. Foram motivos para deixar a casa: a exacerbação da violência e o medo de ser morta; para o retorno: a esperança de mudança do parceiro e o desejo de preservar a família. CONCLUSÕES: Grande parte das mulheres que sofriam violência por parceiro íntimo buscou alguma forma de ajuda. A rede social primária (familiares e amigos) foi a mais procurada pelas mulheres para romper o ciclo violento. Os resultados apontam a necessidade de maior divulgação dos serviços de apoio e a importância da ampliação e qualificação da rede de serviços (polícia, justiça, saúde, assistência psicossocial) para que estes possam acolher e apoiar as mulheres, dando-lhes suporte efetivo para romper com a situação de VPI.OBJETIVO: Describir las formas de enfrentamiento a la violencia física adoptadas por mujeres agredidas por pareja íntima. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal realizado en la línea de base de estudio de cohorte, con gestantes catastradas en el Programa de Salud de la Familia en Brasil, entre julio de 2005 y marzo de 2006, en Recife, PE. Se seleccionaron 283 gestantes de 18 a 49 años con historia de violencia física por la pareja del momento o más reciente antes y/o durante la gestación. Las entrevistas se realizaron cara a cara, con cuestionario estructurado y precodificado y se realizó análisis descriptivo. Se colectó información sobre características sociodemográficas de las mujeres, tipos y gravedad de la violencia física cometida por la pareja, formas de enfrentamiento de la violencia, personas y servicios de apoyo buscados por las mujeres, motivos para que una mujer haya alguna vez abandonado y retornado a casa luego de la violencia. RESULTADOS: De las mujeres que sufrieron violencia física por la pareja intima, 57,6% conversaron con alguien, 3,5% buscaron ayuda institucionalizada, 17,3% conversaron y buscaron ayuda institucionalizada y 21,6% no procuraron ningún tipo de ayuda. Las personas más procuradas fueron los padres (42,0%), amigo/amiga (31,6%) y hermano/hermana (21,2%). Los servicios más buscados por las mujeres fueron: policía/comisaria (57,6%), servicios de salud (27,1%) e instituciones religiosas (25,4%). Relataron no haber obtenido algún tipo de ayuda 44,8% de las mujeres; 32,1% dijeron haber salido de casa alguna vez en la vida, al menos por una noche, de las cuales 5,9% no retornaron. Los motivos para dejar la casa fueron: la exacerbación de la violencia y el miedo de ser asesinada; para el retorno la esperanza de cambio en la pareja y el deseo de preservar la familia. CONCLUSIONES: Gran parte de las mujeres que sufrieron violencia por pareja íntima buscó alguna forma de ayuda. La red social primaria (familiares y amigos) fue la más procurada por las mujeres para romper el ciclo violento. Los resultados apuntan a la necesidad de mayor divulgación de servicios de apoyo y la importancia de la ampliación y calificación de la red de servicios (policía, justicia, salud, asistencia psicosocial) para que estos puedan acoger y apoyar a las mujeres, dándoles soporte efectivo para romper con la situación de VPI.OBJECTIVE: To describe the methods of coping adopted by women who have been subject to physical domestic violence. METHODS: A cross-sectional study designed to investigate domestic violence was carried out on the baseline data of a cohort study of 1,120 pregnant women in Recife, Northeastern Brazil. A total of 283 women aged 18 to 49, who reported physical violence by their current or most recent partner before and/or during pregnancy and who were enrolled in the Family Health Program, were eligible for this study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, involving a structured questionnaire, conducted between July 2005 and March 2006, and descriptive analysis was carried out. Data were gathered on the women's socio-demographic characteristics, the type and scale of the partners' physical violence, the method in which they dealt with the violence, whether help was sought and from whom, whether they had abandoned home due to violence and, if so, whether they had returned. RESULTS: Of the women who had suffered domestic violence, 57.6% had talked to someone about it, 3.5% had sought help from an official service or a person in position of authority, 17.3% had talked to someone and sought help from an official service, and 21.6% had not sought any help. Those people whose support was most frequently sought were parents (42%), a friend (31.6%) and brother / sister (21.2%). The services most frequently sought by the women were: police (57.6%), healthcare (27.1%) and religious institutions (25.4%). Of the women, 44.8% reported not having received any type of assistance; 32.1% reported having left home, for at least one night, at some point in their lives. Of these, only 5.9% reported that they did not return home. The reasons for leaving the home included the exacerbation of violence and the fear of being killed. Reasons for returning home: the hope that the partner would change and the desire to preserve the family. CONCLUSIONS: Most women who reported domestic violence seek some form of help. The primary social network (family and friends) was that most sought after by women to break the cycle of violence. The results highlight the need for raising awareness of assistance and support services and the importance of increasing and improving public service systems (police, legal, health, psycho-social care) to effectively support women in escaping situations of domestic violence.

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência e analisar o padrão da violência por parceiro íntimo antes e durante a gestação e no pós-parto. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte realizado com 960 mulheres de 18 a 49 anos, cadastradas no Programa Saúde da Família da cidade do Recife, PE, entre 2005 e 2006. As mulheres foram entrevistadas durante a gestação e no puerpério, utilizando-se um questionário adaptado do Estudo Multipaíses sobre a Saúde da Mulher e Violência Doméstica da Organização Mundial da Saúde. Para avaliar o padrão de ocorrência da violência por parceiro íntimo, entre um determinado período e o subseqüente, o odds ratio foi calculado com intervalos de 95% de confiança (IC95%). RESULTADOS: A prevalência de violência por parceiro íntimo antes, durante e/ou depois da gestação foi estimada em 47,4% e, para cada período isolado, em 32,4%, 31,0% e 22,6%, respectivamente. As mulheres que relataram violência antes da gravidez tiveram chance 11,6 vezes maior (IC95%: 8,3;16,2) de relatar violência durante a gravidez. Quando as mulheres relataram violência durante a gravidez, a chance de relatos no pós-parto foi 8,2 vezes maior (IC95%: 5,1;11,7). A violência psicológica foi a de maior prevalência, principalmente durante a gestação (28,8%; IC95%: 26,0%;31,7%); a sexual, a menos prevalente, especialmente no pós-parto (3,7%; IC95%: 2,6%;5,0%); e a física diminuiu quase 50% durante a gestação em comparação com o período anterior. CONCLUSÕES: Parcela significativa das mulheres em idade reprodutiva vivencia situações de violência por parceiro íntimo. Os períodos de consultas de pré-natal e de puericultura são oportunidades para que o profissional de saúde possa identificar situações de violência.OBJETIVO: Estimar la prevalencia y analizar el patrón de violencia por pareja íntima, antes y durante la gestación y en el postparto. MÉTODOS: Estudio de cohorte realizado con 960 mujeres de 18 a 49 años, catastradas en el Programa Salud de la Familia de la ciudad de Recife, Noreste de Brasil, entre 2005 y 2006. Las mujeres fueron entrevistadas durante la gestación y en el puerperio, utilizándose un cuestionario adaptado del Estudio Multipaíses sobre la Salud de la Mujer y Violencia Domestica de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Para evaluar el patrón de ocurrencia de la violencia por pareja íntima, entre un determinado periodo y el subsecuente, el odds ratio (OR) fue calculado con intervalos de 95% de confianza (IC95%). RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de violencia por pareja íntima antes, durante y/o después de la gestación fue estimada en 47,4% y para cada período aislado, en 32,4%, 31,0% y 22,6%, respectivamente. Las mujeres que relataron violencia antes del embarazo tuvieron chance 11,6 veces mayor (IC95%:8,3;6,2) de relatar violencia durante el embarazo. Cuando las mujeres relataron violencia durante el embarazo, el chance de relatos en el postparto fue 8,2 veces mayor (IC95%:5,1;11,7). La violencia psicológica fue la de mayor prevalencia, principalmente durante la gestación (28,8%; IC95%:26,0%;31,7%); la sexual, la menos prevalente, especialmente en el postparto (3,7%; IC95%: 2,6%;5,0%); y la física disminuyó casi 50% durante la gestación en comparación con el período anterior. CONCLUSIONES: Parcela significativa de as mujeres en edad reproductiva experimenta situaciones de violencia por pareja íntima. Los períodos de consultas de prenatal y de puericultura son oportunidades para que el profesional de salud pueda identificar situaciones de violencia.OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and analyze the pattern of intimate partner violence, before and during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. METHODS: This was a cohort study undertaken on 960 women aged 18 to 49 years, who were registered in the Family Health Program of the city of Recife, Northeastern Brazil, between 2005 and 2006. The women were interviewed during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, using a questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization's Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence. To assess the pattern of intimate partner violence occurrences between a given time period and the subsequent period, the odds ratio (OR) was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: The prevalence of intimate partner violence before, during and/or after pregnancy was estimated to be 47.4%. For the three periods separately, it was 32.4%, 31.0% and 22.6% respectively. The women who reported violence before pregnancy were 11.6 times more likely to report violence during pregnancy (95%CI: 8.3;16.2). When the women reported violence during pregnancy, the chance of reports in the postpartum period was 8.2 times higher (95%CI: 5.1;11.7). Psychological violence was more prevalent, especially during pregnancy (28.8%; 95%CI: 26.0%;31.7%). Sexual violence was less prevalent, especially after delivery (3.7%; 95%CI: 2.6%;5.0%). Physical violence diminished by almost 50% during pregnancy, in comparison with the preceding period. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of women of reproductive age experience situations of intimate partner violence. The periods of prenatal and childcare consultations are opportunities for healthcare professionals to identify situations of violence.

Este estudo de caso-controle analisou fatores de risco para mortalidade materna no Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil, no período de 2001-2005. Os casos foram 75 óbitos maternos obstétricos, identificados no Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade, investigados e analisados pelo Comitê de Mortalidade Materna. Os controles, selecionados no Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos, pela amostra sistemática, foram 300 mulheres residentes no Recife cuja última gravidez ocorreu no mesmo período e não resultou em óbito. O risco de morte foi mais elevado para as usuárias do SUS (OR = 4,47; IC95%: 1,87-10,29), com idade > 35 anos (OR = 3,06; IC95%: 1,59-5,92), < 4 anos de estudo (OR = 4,95; IC95%: 2,43-10,08), que tiveram parto cesáreo (OR = 3,06; IC95%: 1,77-5,29) e para aquelas que não realizaram pré-natal ou tiveram menos de 4 consultas (OR = 9,78; IC95%: 5,52-17,34). Os resultados reafirmam as desigualdades sociais na determinação de mortalidade materna no Recife. Além disso, indicam a necessidade de aprimorar a assistência à saúde da gestante durante o pré-natal, parto e puerpério.A case-control study was conducted to investigate risk factors for maternal mortality in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, in 2001-2005. Cases were 75 maternal obstetric deaths in Recife, identified from the Mortality Information System, investigated and analyzed by an expert committee on maternal mortality. Controls, selected from the Information System on Live Births using systematic sampling, were 300 women living in Recife whose last pregnancy occurred during the same period and ended in live births. Increased risk of maternal death was associated with use of the public health system (OR = 4.47; 95%CI: 1.87-10.29), age > 35 years (OR = 3.06; 95%CI: 1.59-5.92), < 4 years of schooling (OR = 4.95; 95%CI: 2.43-10.08), cesarean section (OR = 3.06; 95%CI: 1.77-5.29), and lack of prenatal care or fewer than four prenatal visits (OR = 9.78; 95%CI: 5.52-17.34). The results confirm social inequalities in maternal mortality in Recife and indicate the need to improve healthcare for women during the prenatal period, delivery, and postpartum.

A case-control study was carried out at a public teaching hospital in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil in 1997 to investigate risk factors among women who feel regret after undergoing sterilization through tubal ligation. The study compared sterilized women who had requested or undergone a tubal reversal with women who were also sterilized but had not undergone this surgery, nor had requested to do so. Women showing a significantly greater probability of regret were those sterilized at a young age, those who had not themselves made the decision to undergo surgery , those for whom the sterilization was carried out up to the 45th day after childbirth and those who had acquired knowledge about contraceptive methods after the tubal ligation procedure. Having had a deceased child, a partner with no children prior to the current union or a change of partner after the tubal sterilization procedure were also associated to the request for or submission to tubal sterilization reversal. It is necessary to assess women's psycho-socio-demographic profiles, their reasons for requesting tubal ligation and to advise the patient about family planning in order to reduce rates of post-sterilization regret.Um estudo do tipo caso controle foi conduzido em um hospital público de ensino no Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil, em 1997, para investigar os fatores de risco para o arrependimento da realização da laqueadura tubária, comparando mulheres laqueadas que solicitaram ou realizaram a reversão da laqueadura tubária com mulheres também laqueadas que não solicitaram e não se submeteram a esta cirurgia. As mulheres que mostraram uma maior probabilidade de arrependimento foram as esterilizadas quando jovens, as que não foram responsáveis pela decisão da cirurgia, as que realizaram a esterilização até o 45º dia pós-parto e as que adquiriram informações sobre métodos contraceptivos depois da laqueadura tubária. Morte de filhos, parceiros sem filhos anteriores à união atual e a mudança de parceiro após a laqueadura tubária também estiveram associados com a solicitação ou realização de reversão da laqueadura. Deve-se avaliar o perfil psicológico e sócio-demográfico das mulheres e seus motivos para solicitar a laqueadura tubária e aconselhá-las para o planejamento familiar a fim de reduzir os riscos de arrependimento futuro.

OBJETIVOS: investigar a adequação da assistência pré-natal realizada por gestantes usuárias do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) da cidade do Recife, Pernambuco. MÉTODOS: estudo de corte transversal de 612 mulheres atendidas por ocasião do parto em duas unidades do SUS, referências para gravidez de alto risco no Recife, no período de junho a outubro de 2004. A avaliação do Pré-Natal foi baseada nos critérios do Programa de Humanização do Pré-Natal e Nascimento do Ministério da Saúde. RESULTADOS: a cobertura de pré-natal foi de 96,1%, sendo a média de consultas de 5,3. Apenas 38,0% das mulheres iniciaram o pré-natal até o quarto mês de gestação e realizaram seis ou mais consultas. Dentre as entrevistadas, 31% tiveram peso, pressão arterial, altura uterina e os batimentos cardiofetais aferidos em todas as consultas. A atenção pré-natal foi considerada adequada em 17,8% e não-adequada em 82,2% dos casos. CONCLUSÕES: A assistência pré-natal disponível para as gestantes na cidade do Recife, apesar de apresentar elevada cobertura, deve ser revista do ponto de vista qualitativo.OBJECTIVES: to asses antenatal care adequacy offered to pregnant women in the Brazilian Public Health System (BPHS), in the city of Recife, in the State of Pernambuco. METHODS: a cross-sectional study of 612 women seen assisted during delivery in two BPHS units, with high risk pregnancies referrals in Recife, from June to October 2004. Antenatal care assessment was based on the criteria of the Humane Antenatal and Delivery Program of the Ministry of Health. RESULTS: antenatal coverage averaged 96.1% and the median of medical visits was of 5.3. Only 38.0% of the women initiated antenatal care by the fourth month of pregnancy and made six or more medical consults. Among the respondents, 31% had weight, arterial pressure, uterine fundus height and cardiofetal heartbeats measured in all medical visits. Antenatal care was considered adequate in 17.8% of the cases and inadequate in 82.2% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: available antenatal care for pregnant women in Recife city has ample coverage, but it should be reviewed from a quality standpoint.

As desigualdades raciais, resultantes dos efeitos da exclusão social, são influenciadas pela prática de preconceitos e discriminações. O termo raça pode ser entendido como identidade coletiva ou consciência política que constrói uma auto-estima socialmente positiva. Objetivou-se caracterizar desigualdades raciais na mortalidade de mulheres adultas negras e brancas, residentes em Recife, entre 2001 e 2003. No estudo, tipo transversal, incluíram-se 2.943 óbitos de mulheres de 20 a 59 anos, captados no Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade, com raça/cor branca e negra (preta + parda), analisando-se a mortalidade proporcional, coeficientes de mortalidade e razões de taxas. O risco de morte de negras foi 1,7 vezes superior ao de brancas. Entre as negras identificou-se maior risco de morte em todas as faixas etárias e maior proporção de óbitos em hospitais do SUS, de mulheres sem companheiro e que exerciam serviços/atividades domésticas. Quanto às causas básicas, observaram-se maiores coeficientes de mortalidade em todos os capítulos e causas específicas, exceto por neoplasias na faixa de 20 a 29 anos e por câncer de mama nas faixas de 30 a 39 e 50 a 59 anos. Entre negras e brancas, quanto menor a idade, maior a desigualdade do risco de morte por causas externas. Em negras, ressalta-se o maior risco de morte por homicídios; acidentes de transporte; doenças isquêmicas do coração, cerebrovasculares e hipertensivas; diabetes e tuberculose. Os achados revelam iniqüidades na saúde das mulheres negras, decorrentes da violação de direitos que dificultam a ascensão social e o acesso a condições dignas de saúde.Racial inequalities are effects of social exclusion, being influenced by prejudice and discrimination. The term race is used here meaning group identity or political perception of sharing a particular racial heritage, which builds a positive social self-esteem. The study aimed to characterize the mortality pattern of black and white adult women living in Recife, between 2001 and 2003. In this cross-sectional study, 2,943 deaths of women aged between 20 and 59 years were included, identified in the Mortality Information System of the National Health System (SUS), with race/skin color white or black (black + mestizo). Proportional mortality, mortality rates and ratios were obtained. The risk of dying was 1.7 times higher for black women compared to whites. Black women had higher risk of death in all age groups and higher proportion of deaths in public hospitals, of women who did not have a partner (single, widow or separated), who were housewives or worked as domestic servants, and who were less educated. Regarding the underlying causes, black women had a higher mortality rate for all chapters of the International Classification of Diseases and for specific causes of death, except for neoplasm in women aged 20 to 29 years and for breast cancer in women aged 30 to 39 and 50 to 59 years. As age decreases, a large difference between black and white women was found in the risk of deaths caused by external causes. Among black women, there was an increase in the risk of dying due to homicides, motor vehicle accidents, ischemic heart diseases, cerebral vascular and hypertensive diseases, diabetes, and tuberculosis. The findings showed inequality in health, with disadvantages for the black women, which are the expression of human rights violation that challenges social rise and the access to decent health conditions.

RESUMO: Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre violência física pelo parceiro íntimo e uso inadequado da atenção pré-natal. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 1.026 mulheres participantes de estudo de coorte prospectivo delineado para investigar violência na gravidez entre mulheres cadastradas no Programa Saúde da Família (PSF) do Recife. O uso do pré-natal foi avaliado utilizando a norma do Programa de Humanização do Pré-natal e Nascimento (PHPN), do Ministério da Saúde (MS), considerando a época de início do pré-natal e o total de consultas durante a gravidez. Os dados foram coletados por meio de duas entrevistas presenciais (uma no último trimestre da gravidez, outra no pós-parto) para aplicação de questionário estruturado e a partir dos registros do cartão da gestante. Regressão logística não condicional foi realizada para estimar odds ratio (OR) e valores de intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%), a fim de medir a associação entre violência física pelo parceiro íntimo e uso inadequado de cuidados pré-natais, utilizando-se o método stepwise. Resultados: A prevalência de uso inadequado do pré-natal foi de 44,1%, e da violência física pelo parceiro íntimo, de 25,6%. Na análise de regressão logística, a violência física pelo parceiro íntimo apresentou-se associada à realização de pré-natal inadequado (OR = 1,37; IC95% 1,01 - 1,85; p = 0,04), após ajuste pelas variáveis confirmadas como confundidoras (paridade, uso de álcool na gravidez e nível de escolaridade). Conclusão: Mulheres vítimas de violência física pelo parceiro íntimo têm maior chance de realizar um pré-natal inadequado, seja pelo início tardio, pela realização de menor número de consultas ou mesmo pelas duas condições juntas.

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência e analisar o padrão da violência por parceiro íntimo antes e durante a gestação e no pós-parto. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte realizado com 960 mulheres de 18 a 49 anos, cadastradas no Programa Saúde da Família da cidade do Recife, PE, entre 2005 e 2006. As mulheres foram entrevistadas durante a gestação e no puerpério, utilizando-se um questionário adaptado do Estudo Multipaíses sobre a Saúde da Mulher e Violência Doméstica da Organização Mundial da Saúde. Para avaliar o padrão de ocorrência da violência por parceiro íntimo, entre um determinado período e o subseqüente, o odds ratio foi calculado com intervalos de 95% de confiança (IC95%). RESULTADOS: A prevalência de violência por parceiro íntimo antes, durante e/ou depois da gestação foi estimada em 47,4% e, para cada período isolado, em 32,4%, 31,0% e 22,6%, respectivamente. As mulheres que relataram violência antes da gravidez tiveram chance 11,6 vezes maior (IC95%: 8,3;16,2) de relatar violência durante a gravidez. Quando as mulheres relataram violência durante a gravidez, a chance de relatos no pós-parto foi 8,2 vezes maior (IC95%: 5,1;11,7). A violência psicológica foi a de maior prevalência, principalmente durante a gestação (28,8%; IC95%: 26,0%;31,7%); a sexual, a menos prevalente, especialmente no pós-parto (3,7%; IC95%: 2,6%;5,0%); e a física diminuiu quase 50% durante a gestação em comparação com o período anterior. CONCLUSÕES: Parcela significativa das mulheres em idade reprodutiva vivencia situações de violência por parceiro íntimo. Os períodos de consultas de pré-natal e de puericultura são oportunidades para que o profissional de saúde possa identificar situações de violência.

OBJETIVO: Descrever as formas de enfrentamento à violência física adotadas por mulheres agredidas por parceiro íntimo. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado na linha de base de estudo de coorte, com gestantes cadastradas no Programa Saúde da Família, entre julho de 2005 e março de 2006, em Recife, PE. Foram selecionadas 283 gestantes de 18 a 49 anos com histórico de violência física pelo parceiro de então ou mais recente antes e/ou durante a gestação. As entrevistas foram realizadas face a face, com questionário estruturado e pré-codificado, e realizou-se análise descritiva. Foi coletada informação sobre características sociodemográficas das mulheres, tipos e gravidade da violência física cometida pelo parceiro, formas de enfrentamento da violência, pessoas e serviços de apoio procurados pelas mulheres, motivos para a mulher ter alguma vez abandonado e retornado a casa em razão da violência. RESULTADOS: Das mulheres que sofreram violência física pelo parceiro íntimo, 57,6% conversaram com alguém, 3,5% procuraram ajuda institucionalizada, 17,3% conversaram e procuraram ajuda institucionalizada e 21,6% não procuraram nenhuma forma de ajuda. As pessoas mais procuradas foram os pais (42,0%), amigo/amiga (31,6%) e irmão/irmã (21,2%). Os serviços mais procurados pelas mulheres foram: polícia/delegacia (57,6%), serviços de saúde (27,1%) e instituições religiosas (25,4%). Relataram não ter obtido qualquer tipo de ajuda 44,8% das mulheres; 32,1% disseram ter saído de casa alguma vez na vida, pelo menos por uma noite, das quais 5,9% não retornaram a casa. Foram motivos para deixar a casa: a exacerbação da violência e o medo de ser morta; para o retorno: a esperança de mudança do parceiro e o desejo de preservar a família. CONCLUSÕES: Grande parte das mulheres que sofriam violência por parceiro íntimo buscou alguma forma de ajuda. A rede social primária (familiares e amigos) foi a mais procurada pelas mulheres para romper o ciclo violento. Os resultados apontam a necessidade de maior divulgação dos serviços de apoio e a importância da ampliação e qualificação da rede de serviços (polícia, justiça, saúde, assistência psicossocial) para que estes possam acolher e apoiar as mulheres, dando-lhes suporte efetivo para romper com a situação de VPI.

Abstract Objectives: this study aims to evaluate parturition distribution of live-born children within the First Health Regional Administration (GERES I) in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil in 2012. Methods: live Birth Certificates were used to evaluate displacements between pregnant women's residential municipalities and birth localities. Flux maps were constructed to represent pregnant women transferred to Recife, and the estimated number of live-borns with high-risk and regular births was calculated for each municipality. Results: in 2012, only 50% of the births of live babies in the GERES I took place at the original residential municipality of the mother. In Recife, the number of childbirths was 1.5 times greater than expected for this year, with 56% representing non-residents. Eleven municipalities of the GERES I have maternity hospitals, however, none of these responded to the expected number of regular risk births. Conclusions: this disruption of the obstetric network leads to the disrespecting of women's right to know beforehand the place of childbirth and to create bonds with it. Municipalities perform fewer childbirths than expected, resulting in unnecessary transfers and the overloading of maternity hospitals in Recife.

As desigualdades sociais no Brasil se refletem na busca por atenção pelas mulheres com abortamento, as quais enfrentam barreiras individuais, sociais e estruturais, expondo-as a situações de vulnerabilidades. São as negras as mais expostas a essas barreiras, desde a procura pelo serviço até o atendimento. O estudo objetivou analisar os fatores relacionados às barreiras individuais na busca do primeiro atendimento pós-aborto segundo raça/cor. A pesquisa foi realizada em Salvador (Bahia), Recife (Pernambuco) e São Luís (Maranhão), Brasil, com 2.640 usuárias internadas em hospitais públicos. Foi realizada regressão logística para análise das diferenças segundo raça/cor (branca, parda e preta), considerando-se “não houve barreiras individuais na busca pelo primeiro atendimento” como categoria de referência da variável dependente. Das entrevistadas, 35,7% eram pretas, 53,3% pardas e 11% brancas. Mulheres pretas tinham menor escolaridade, menos filhos e declararam mais o aborto como provocado (31,1%), após 12 semanas de gestação (15,4%). Relataram mais barreiras individuais na busca pelo primeiro atendimento (32% vs. 28% entre pardas e 20,3% entre brancas), tais como o medo de ser maltratada e não ter dinheiro para o transporte. Na regressão, confirmou-se a associação entre raça/cor preta e parda e barreiras individuais na busca de cuidados pós-aborto, mesmo após o ajuste por todas as variáveis selecionadas. Os resultados confirmam a situação de vulnerabilidade das pretas e pardas. A discriminação racial nos serviços de saúde e o estigma em relação ao aborto podem atuar simultaneamente, retardando a ida das mulheres ao serviço, o que pode configurar uma situação limite de maior agravamento do quadro pós-abortamento.

Abstract Objective To describe the feeding characteristics and growth of children with prenatal exposure to Zika virus (ZIKV) from birth to 48 months. Design Using data from the prospective Microcephaly Epidemic Research Group Pediatric Cohort (MERG-PC), children without microcephaly born to mothers with evidence of ZIKV infection during pregnancy (ZIKV-exposed children without microcephaly) and children with Zika-related microcephaly were compared using repeated cross-sectional analyses within the following age strata: birth; 1 to 12; 13 to 24; 25 to 36; and 37 to 48 months. The groups were compared in relation to prematurity, birth weight, breastfeeding, alternative feeding routes, dysphagia and anthropometric profiles based on the World Health Organization Anthro z-scores (weight-length/height, weight-age, length/height-age and BMI-age). Results The first assessment included 248 children, 77 (31.05%) with microcephaly and 171 (68.95%) without microcephaly. The final assessment was performed on 86 children. Prematurity was 2.35 times higher and low birth weight was 3.49 times higher in children with microcephaly. The frequency of breastfeeding was high (> 80%) in both groups. On discharge from the maternity hospital, the frequency of children requiring alternative feeding route in both groups was less than 5%. After 12 months of age, children with microcephaly required alternative feeding route more often than children without microcephaly. In children with microcephaly, the z-score of all growth indicators was lower than in children without microcephaly. Conclusions Children with Zika-related microcephaly were more frequently premature and low birth weight and remained with nutritional parameters, i.e., weight-for-age, weight-for-length/height and length/height-for-age below those of the children without microcephaly.

ABSTRACT This review aimed to provide an update on the morphological and/or functional abnormalities related to congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, based on primary data from studies conducted in Brazil since 2015. During the epidemic years (2015-2016), case series and pediatric cohort studies described several birth defects, including severe and/or disproportionate microcephaly, cranial bone overlap, skull collapse, congenital contractures (arthrogryposis and/or clubfoot), and visual and hearing abnormalities, as part of the spectrum of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Brain imaging abnormalities, mainly cortical atrophy, ventriculomegaly, and calcifications, serve as structural markers of CZS severity. Most case series and cohorts of microcephaly have reported the co-occurrence of epilepsy, dysphagia, orthopedic deformities, motor function impairment, cerebral palsy, and urological impairment. A previous large meta-analysis conducted in Brazil revealed that a confirmed ZIKV infection during pregnancy was associated with a 4% risk of microcephaly. Additionally, one-third of children showed at least one abnormality, predominantly identified in isolation. Studies examining antenatally ZIKV-exposed children without detectable abnormalities at birth reported conflicting neurodevelopmental results. Therefore, long-term follow-up studies involving pediatric cohorts with appropriate control groups are needed to address this knowledge gap. We recognize the crucial role of a national network of scientists collaborating with international research institutions in understanding the lifelong consequences of congenital ZIKV infection. Additionally, we highlight the need to provide sustainable resources for research and development to reduce the risk of future Zika outbreaks.