Asthma and pregnancy: repercussions for neonates.
OBJECTIVE
To describe socioeconomic and behavioral aspects of pregnant women with asthma and to analyze the effects of maternal asthma on certain perinatal parameters in a birth cohort.


METHODS
An observational crosssectional analytical study using data regarding the mothers of a birth cohort at maternity hospitals in the greater metropolitan area of Aracaju, Brazil, between the 8th of March and the 15th of July of 2005. In the pregnant women, asthma was self-reported, based on previous medical diagnosis. Epidemiological, obstetric and perinatal variables were studied.


RESULTS
Of the 4,757 mothers included in the study, 299 (6.3%) had asthma. The mothers with asthma had lower family incomes and more frequently made use of the public health care system (for prenatal care and delivery) than did those without asthma. Although only 9.4% of the mothers with asthma smoked and only 27.6% consumed alcoholic beverages, these proportions were higher than were those observed for the control group. Asthma was not found to be associated with obstetric problems or with problems involving the neonates. Nor did we find asthma to be associated with cesarean delivery, prematurity or small-for-gestational-age neonates.


CONCLUSIONS
Low socioeconomic level seems to be a risk factor for asthma.
Almeida
Maria Luiza Doria
ML
Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil. . luiza_doria@hotmail.com
Santana
Priscila Andrade
PA
Guimarães
Alzira Maria d'Avila Nery
AM
Gurgel
Ricardo Queiroz
RQ
Vianna
Elcio Oliveira
EO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult