title: Maternal age, social changes, and pregnancy outcome in Ribeirão Preto, southeast Brazil, in 1978-79 and 1994.
abstract: This study focused on changes in demographic, social, and health-care patterns and pregnancy outcome related to maternal age from 1978-79 to 1994 in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil. Information on pregnancy outcome was obtained from two cohorts of singleton live births, 6,681 births in 1978/79 and 2,839 births in 1994. A standardized questionnaire was submitted to mothers after delivery, and demographic information was collected from official records. There was a significant increase in teenage pregnancies (from 5.1% to 7.4%) and a decrease in infant mortality (36/1,000 to 17/1,000). There were significant decreases in the proportion of mothers with low schooling (24.5% to 14.4%), smoking (28.9% to 21.%), and multiparity (14.7% to 9.0%). Prenatal coverage improved (from 23.4% to 9.0% of patients with fewer than 4 prenatal visits), while cesareans increased (from 30.6% to 50.8%), as did preterm delivery (7.2% to 13.6%) and low birthweight (7.2% to 10.6%). Despite significant improvements in some maternal characteristics, the proportion of teenage pregnancies, preterm deliveries, low birthweight, and cesareans increased, raising concerns about the health costs and consequences for mothers and infants.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil. mgoldani@fmrp.usp.br
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Goldani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bettiol
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012922:Social Change; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires