Individual and context correlates of the oral pill and condom use among Brazilian female adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Studies have examined the impact of contextual factors on the use of contraceptives among adolescents and found that many measures of income and social inequality are associated with contraceptive use. However, few have focused on maternal and primary health indicators and its influence on adolescent contraceptive use. This paper assesses whether maternal mortality rates, antenatal care visits, and primary healthcare coverage are associated with pill and condom use among female adolescents in Brazil. METHODS: We used data from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a national, school-based cross-sectional study conducted in Brazil. A subsample of all female adolescents who had ever had sexual intercourse and were living in one of the 26 State capitals and the Federal District was selected (n = 7415). Multilevel mixed effects logistic regression models were estimated to examine the effect of contextual variables on pill and condom use. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent of female adolescents reported using pill while 21.9% reported using condom during the last sexual intercourse. Adolescents living in municipalities with low maternal mortality and high antenatal care coverage were significantly more likely to use pill during the last sexual intercourse compared to those from municipalities with high maternal mortality and low antenatal care coverage. Primary healthcare coverage (proportion of the population covered by primary healthcare teams) was not significantly associated with either condom or pill use during the last sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that promoting the use of pill among female adolescents may require approaches to strengthen healthcare systems rather than those focused solely on individual attributes.

Fertility rates among very young adolescent women: temporal and spatial trends in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: We assessed whether the reported decrease in fertility rates among 15 to 19 years old Brazilian adolescents has met with a parallel decrease in very young adolescent (10 to 14 years old) fertility rates. So we explored temporal trends for fertility rates among very young adolescents between 2000 and 2012 for Brazil as a whole, its regions and states; and also analyzed the spatial distribution of fertility rates among Brazilian municipalities in the years 2000 and 2012. METHODS: We used data from the Information System on Live Births to calculate the rates. To examine the temporal trends, we used linear regression for time series with Prais-Winsten estimation, including the annual percentage change, for the country, regions, and states. To analyze the spatial distribution among Brazilian municipalities, we calculated the Global Moran Index and created a local Moran significance and cluster map through Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA). We also elaborated a thematic map with the rates using empirical Bayesian estimation. RESULTS: Brazilian very young adolescent fertility rates remained high and stable throughout the 2000 to 2012 period, and significantly decreased in three out of 26 states, and in the federal district. On the other hand, an increase was observed in two Northern and Northeastern states. The rates were spatially dependent in Brazilian municipalities (Moran Index = 0.22 in 2012; p = 0.05). The maps indicated a heterogeneous distribution of the rates, with high-rate clusters predominant in the North and low-rate clusters predominant in the South, Southeast, and Midwest. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that Brazilian very young adolescent fertility rates have not decreased in parallel with adolescent fertility rates as they remain high and did not decrease from 2000 and 2012, even though a few states presented a decrease. Thus, these phenomena probably have distinct underlying causes that warrant further elucidation. Progress in this field is crucial for the development of specific policies and programs focused on very young adolescents.

Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy in Brazilian Portuguese.

BACKGROUND: Estimates of unplanned pregnancy worldwide are of concern, especially in low and middle-income countries, including Brazil. Although the contraceptive prevalence rate is high in Brazil, almost half of all pregnancies are reported as unintended. The only source of nationally representative data about pregnancy intention is the Demographic and Health Survey, as with many other countries. In more recent years, however, it has been realized that concept of unintended pregnancy is potentially more complex and requires more sophisticated measurement strategies, such as the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP). The LMUP has been translated and validated in other languages, but not Portuguese yet. In this study, we evaluate the psychometric properties of the LMUP in the Portuguese language, Brazilian version. METHODS: A Brazilian Portuguese version of the LMUP was produced via translation and back-translation. After piloting, the mode of administration was changed from self-completion to interviewer-administration. The measure was field tested with pregnant, postpartum, and postabortion women recruited at maternity and primary health care services in Sao Paulo city. Reliability (internal consistency) was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlations. Construct validity was assessed using principal components analysis and hypothesis testing. Scaling was assessed with Mokken analysis. RESULTS: 759 women aged 15-44 completed the Brazilian Portuguese LMUP. There were no missing data. The measure was acceptable and well targeted. Reliability testing demonstrated good internal consistency (alpha = 0.81, all item-rest correlations >0.2). Validity testing confirmed that the measure was unidimensional and that all hypotheses were met: there were lower LMUP median scores among women in the extreme age groups (p < 0.001), among non-married women (p < 0.001) and those with lower educational attainment (p < 0.001). The Loevinger H coefficient was 0.60, indicating a strong scale. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian Portuguese LMUP is a valid and reliable measure of pregnancy planning/intention that is now available for use in Brazil. It represents a useful addition to the public health research and surveillance toolkit in Brazil.

The inner state differences of preterm birth rates in Brazil: a time series study.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is a serious public health problem, as it is linked to high rates of neonatal and child morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of premature births has increased worldwide, with regional differences. The objective of this study was to analyze the trend of preterm births in the state of Paraná, Brazil, according to Macro-regional and Regional Health Offices (RHOs). METHODS: This is an ecological time series study using preterm births records from the national live birth registry system of Brazil's National Health Service - Live Birth Information System (Sinasc), for residents of the state of Paraná, Brazil, between 2000 and 2013. The preterm birth rates was calculated on a yearly basis and grouped into three-year periods (2000-2002, 2003-2005, 2006-2008, 2009-2011) and one two-year period (2012-2013), according to gestational age and mother's Regional Health Office of residence. The polynomial regression model was used for trend analysis. RESULTS: The predominance of preterm birth rate increased from 6.8 % in 2000 to 10.5 % in 2013, with an average increase of 0.20 % per year (r(2) = 0.89), and a greater share of moderate preterm births (32 to <37 weeks), which increased from 5.8 % to 9 %. The same pattern was observed for all Macro-regional Health Offices, with highlight to the Northern Macro-Regional Office, which showed the highest average rate of prematurity and average annual growth during that period (7.55 % and 0.35 %, respectively). The trend analysis of preterm birth rates according to RHO showed a growing trend for almost all RHOs - except for the 7(th) RHO where a declining trend was observed (-0.95 a year); and in the 20(th), 21(st) and 22(nd) RHOs which remained unchanged. In the last three-year of the study period (2011-2013), no RHO showed preterm birth rates below 7.3 % or prevalence of moderate preterm birth below 9.4 %. CONCLUSIONS: The results show an increase in preterm births with differences among Macro-regional and RHOs, which indicate the need to improve actions during the prenatal period according to the specificities of each region.

Brazilian Maternal Weight Perception and Satisfaction With Toddler Body Size: A Study in Primary Health Care.

UNLABELLED: Maternal perception and satisfaction with child's weight status are important to detect early and to successfully treat the extremes in weight, especially during early childhood, when the child is more dependent on maternal care. OBJECTIVES: To assess the inaccuracy of maternal perception of toddler body size and its associated factors and to analyze maternal dissatisfaction with toddler body size. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 135 mother-toddler dyads attending Primary Health Care Facilities, São Paulo, Brazil. Children's actual weight status was classified using body mass index-for-age. Inaccuracy and dissatisfaction were assessed using an image scale. We used logistic regression to identify the factors associated with inaccuracy of maternal perception of toddler body size. RESULTS: Inaccuracy in maternal perception was observed in 34.8% of participants. Mothers of excessive weight children were more likely to have inaccurate perceptions (OR=4.6; 95% CI 2.0-10.7), and mothers of children who attended well-child care were less likely to have inaccurate perceptions (OR=0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.9). More than half of mothers (52.6%) were dissatisfied with their toddler's size and desired a larger child (75.0% of mothers of underweight children, 25.0% of mothers whose children were at risk for overweight and 23.0% of mothers of overweight children). CONCLUSION: The majority of mothers were inaccurate in their perception and was dissatisfied with their toddler's body size. Maternal inaccuracy and dissatisfaction differed by the weight status of the toddler. Attendance at well-child visits was an effective way to decrease maternal inaccuracy, which reinforces the importance of the influence of health professionals.

Access to Contraceptives in Countries With Restrictive Abortion Laws: The Case of Brazil.

We aimed to determine whether current contraceptive use is affected by a history of abortion for women from a country with abortion-restricted laws. This is an analysis of 2006 Brazil Demographic and Health Survey. Nonpregnant women whose first pregnancy occurred in the previous 5 years were selected for this study (n = 2,181). We used propensity score matching to compare current contraceptive use among women with induced or spontaneous abortion and women with no abortion. We found differences in the use, but women with a history of abortion did not report more effective contraceptive than women with no abortion, as we expected.

Maternal perception of their child's nutritional status at less than three years old.

OBJECTIVE: Assessing maternal perception of their children's nutritional status and identifying associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted in a small municipality with 342 children less than 3 years of age treated in Basic Health Units of São Paulo. Nutritional status was classified in percentiles of body mass index for age and maternal perception was assessed using the scale of verbal descriptors (very thin, thin, healthy weight, fat, very fat). Logistic regression was used to identify the associatedfactors. RESULTS: 44.7% of maternal perception was found to beinadequate. Mothers of overweight (OR = 11.8, 95% CI: 6.4-21.7) and underweight (OR = 5.5; 95% CI: 1.9-16.2) children had a higher chance of having inadequate perception, similar to mothers of children over 24 months of age (OR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.4-6.0). CONCLUSION: For effective child care in primary care, healthcare professionals should consider maternal perception and helpmothers to identify the nutritional status of children in childcare consultations and growth monitoring. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a percepção materna do estado nutricional do filho e identificar os fatores associados. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal realizado em município de pequeno porte com 342 crianças menores de 3anos atendidas em Unidades Básicas de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo. O estado nutricional foi classificado em percentis do Índice de Massa Corporalpara Idade e a percepção materna foi avaliada com escala de descritores verbais (muito magro, magro, peso adequado, gordo, muito gordo). Utilizou-se de regressão logística para identificar os fatores associados. RESULTADOS: Constatou-se 44,7% de percepção materna inadequada. Mães de crianças com excesso de peso (OR=11,8; IC95%:6,4-21,7) e com baixo peso (OR=5,5; IC95%:1,9-16,2) apresentaram mais chance de percepção inadequada, da mesma forma que mães de crianças com mais de 24 meses de idade (OR=2,9; IC95%:1,4-6,0). CONCLUSÃO: Para uma efetiva assistência à criança na atenção básica, profissionais de saúde devem considerar a percepção materna e auxiliar as mães na identificação do estado nutricional do filho nas consultas de puericultura e acompanhamento do crescimento.

The Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents--ERICA: rationale, design and sample characteristics of a national survey examining cardiovascular risk factor profile in Brazilian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents (Portuguese acronym, "ERICA") is a multicenter, school-based country-wide cross-sectional study funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, which aims at estimating the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including those included in the definition of the metabolic syndrome, in a random sample of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years in Brazilian cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Approximately 85,000 students were assessed in public and private schools. Brazil is a continental country with a heterogeneous population of 190 million living in its five main geographic regions (North, Northeast, Midwest, South and Southeast). ERICA is a pioneering study that will assess the prevalence rates of cardiovascular risk factors in Brazilian adolescents using a sample with national and regional representativeness. This paper describes the rationale, design and procedures of ERICA. METHODS/DESIGN: Participants answered a self-administered questionnaire using an electronic device, in order to obtain information on demographic and lifestyle characteristics, including physical activity, smoking, alcohol intake, sleeping hours, common mental disorders and reproductive and oral health. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall. Anthropometric measures (weight, height and waist circumference) and blood pressure were also be measured. Blood was collected from a subsample of approximately 44,000 adolescents for measurements of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated hemoglobin and fasting insulin. DISCUSSION: The study findings will be instrumental to the development of public policies aiming at the prevention of obesity, atherosclerotic diseases and diabetes in an adolescent population.

Contraceptive use following spontaneous and induced abortion and its association with family planning services in primary health care: results from a Brazilian longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Although it is well known that post-abortion contraceptive use is high when family planning services are provided following spontaneous or induced abortions, this relationship remains unclear in Brazil and similar settings with restrictive abortion laws. Our study aims to assess whether contraceptive use is associated with access to family planning services in the six-month period post-abortion, in a setting where laws towards abortion are highly restrictive. METHODS: This prospective cohort study recruited 147 women hospitalized for emergency treatment following spontaneous or induced abortion in Brazil. These women were then followed up for six months (761 observations). Women responded to monthly telephone interviews about contraceptive use and the utilization of family planning services (measured by the utilization of medical consultation and receipt of contraceptive counseling). Generalized Estimating Equations were used to analyze the effect of family planning services and other covariates on contraceptive use over the six-month period post-abortion. RESULTS: Women who reported utilization of both medical consultation and contraceptive counseling in the same month had higher odds of reporting contraceptive use during the six-month period post-abortion, when compared with those who did not use these family planning services [adjusted aOR = 1.93, 95 % Confidence Interval: 1.13-3.30]. Accessing either service alone did not contribute to contraceptive use. Age (25-34 vs. 15-24 years) was also statistically associated with contraceptive use. Pregnancy planning status, desire to have more children and education did not contribute to contraceptive use. CONCLUSIONS: In restrictive abortion settings, family planning services offered in the six-month post-abortion period contribute to contraceptive use, if not restricted to simple counseling. Medical consultation, in the absence of contraceptive counseling, makes no difference. Immediate initiation of a contraceptive that suits women's pregnancy intention following an abortion is recommended, as well as a wide range of contraceptive methods, including long-acting reversible methods, even in restrictive abortion laws contexts.

[Hemoglobin curves during pregnancy before and after fortification of flours with iron]. / Curvas de hemoglobina ao longo da gestação antes e após a fortificação de farinhas com ferro.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of hemoglobin-Hb during pregnancy before and after fortification of flours with iron. METHOD: A cross-sectional study with data from 12,119 pregnant women attended at a public prenatal from five macro regions of Brazil. The sample was divided into two groups: Before-fortification (birth before June/2004) and After-fortification (last menstruation after June/2005). Hb curves were compared with national and international references. Polynomial regression models were built, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Although the higher levels of Hb in all gestational months after-fortification, the polynomial regression did not show the fortification effect (p=0.3). Curves in the two groups were above the references in the first trimester, with following decrease and stabilization at the end of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Although the fortification effect was not confirmed, the study presents variation of Hb levels during pregnancy, which is important for assistencial practice and evaluation of public policies.

[Comprehensiveness in child healthcare teaching in Undergraduate Nursing: perspective of teachers]. / Integralidade no ensino da saúde da criança na Graduação em Enfermagem: perspectiva de docentes.

This qualitative study analyzed, from the teacher's perspective, if the principle of comprehensiveness is included in child healthcare teaching in nursing education. The participants were 16 teachers involved in teaching child healthcare in eight undergraduate nursing programs. Data collection was performed through interviews that were submitted to thematic content analysis. The theory in teaching incorporates comprehensive care, as it is based on children's epidemiological profile, child healthcare policies and programs, and included interventions for the promotion/prevention/rehabilitation in primary health care, hospitals, daycare centers and preschools. The comprehensive conception of health-disease process allows for understanding the child within his/her family and community. However, a contradiction exists between what is proposed and what is practiced, because the teaching is fragmented, without any integration among disciplines, with theory dissociated from practice, and isolated practical teaching that compromises the incorporation of the principle of comprehensiveness in child healthcare teaching.

[Neonatal mortality in infants with low birth weight]. / Mortalidade neonatal em crianças com baixo peso ao nascer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the factors associated with neonatal mortality in infant born with low birth weight. METHOD: Cross-sectional study that analyzed data from 771 live births with low birth weight (<2500 g) in the city of Cuiabá, MT, in 2010, of whom 54 died in the neonatal period. We obtained data from the Information System on Live Births and Mortality, by integrated linkage. RESULTS: In multiple logistic regression, neonatal mortality was associated with: number of prenatal visits less than 7 (OR=3.80;CI:1,66-8,70); gestational age less than 37 weeks (OR=4.77;CI:1.48-15.38), Apgar score less than 7 at the 1st minute (OR=4.25;CI:1.84-9.81) and the 5th minute (OR=5.72,CI:2.24-14.60) and presence of congenital anomaly (OR=14.39;IC:2.72-76.09). CONCLUSION: Neonatal mortality in infants with low birth weight is associated with avoidable factors through adequate attention to prenatal care, childbirth and infants.

Use and records of child health handbook focused on growth and development.

Objective To evaluate the use and records of the Child Health Handbook (CHH), especially growth and development. Method Cross-sectional study with 358 mother-child pairs registered in 12 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) of a small municipality. Mothers were interviewed at the PHC from February to April 2013 using a questionnaire. Data analysis was done using WHO Anthro software, Epi InfoTM and Stata. Results Fifty-three percent of the mothers were carrying the CHH at the time of the interview, similar to the proportion of mothers who were instructed to bring the CHH to health appointments. Annotations in the CHH during the visits were reported by 49%. The vaccination schedule was completed in 97% of the CHH, but only 9% and 8% of the CHH, respectively, contained growth charts and properly completed developmental milestones. Conclusion Low rates of use and unsatisfactory record-keeping in the CHH reinforce the need for investment in professional training and community awareness for the CHH to become an effective instrument of promotion of child health.

Trend of incompleteness of the Robson Classification variables in the Live Birth Information (SINASC) in the state of Paraná, Brazil, 2014-2020.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incompleteness of the Robson Classification variables in the Live Birth Information System (Sistema de Informação sobre Nascidos Vivos - SINASC), in the state of Paraná, and its trend, 2014-2020. METHODS: This was a time-series study that analyzed six variables, according to health macro-regions. Incompleteness was classified (percentage of "ignored" and "blank fields") as follows: excellent (< 1.0%); good (1.0-2.9%); regular (3.0-6.9%); poor (≥ 7.0%). Prais-Winsten regression was used to estimate trends. RESULTS: A total of 1,089,116 births were evaluated. The variable "cesarean section before the onset of labor" was classified as poor in 2014 (39.4%) and 2015 (44.3%) in the state and in all macro-regions, but with a decreasing trend in incompleteness. The variables "gestational age" in the North and Northwest macro-regions, and "parity" and "number of fetuses" in the Northwest macro-region showed an increasing trend. CONCLUSION: Most of the variables evaluated showed low percentages of incompleteness with a decreasing trend, but there is a need to improve the completion of some variables.

Near miss neonatal in the capital of the Brazilian Midwest: a case-control study. / Near miss neonatal em capital do Centro-Oeste brasileiro: estudo caso-controle.

We aimed to analyze factors associated with neonatal near-miss in Cuiabá, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil by performing a case-control study of live births in a capital city of central-western Brazil from January 2015 to December 2018 that included 931 cases and 1,862 controls. Data were obtained from the Live Births Information System and the Mortality Information System and variables were organized according to the hierarchical model. Association was analyzed by logistic regression with a 5% significance level. Data were expressed as crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) and respective confidence intervals (95%CI). The following factors were associated with neonatal near miss: mothers with two (OR = 1.63; 95%CI: 1.01-2.63) or three or more previous pregnancies (OR=1.87; 95%CI: 1.09-3.21), without any live children (OR = 2.57; 95%CI: 1.56-4.24 ) or one live child at birth (OR = 1.53; 95%CI: 1.04-2.26), multiple pregnancy (OR = 4.57; 95%CI: 2.95-7.07), fewer than six prenatal consultations (OR = 2.20; 95%CI: 1.77-2.72), whose deliveries took place in public/university hospitals (OR = 2.25; 95%CI: 1.60-3.15) or philanthropic hospitals (OR = 1.62; 95%CI: 1.16-2.26), with non-cephalic presentation (OR = 2.71 95%CI: 1.87-3.94) and uninduced labor (OR = 1.47; 95%CI: 1.18-1.84).

Objetivou-se analisar fatores associados ao near miss neonatal em Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. Estudo caso-controle de nascidos vivos em capital do Centro-Oeste brasileiro, de janeiro de 2015 a dezembro de 2018, com 931 casos e 1.862 controles. Os dados foram coletados no Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos e no Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade. As variáveis foram organizadas seguindo o modelo hierárquico. A associação foi analisada por meio de regressão logística, com nível de significância de 5%. Os dados foram expressos em odds ratio (OR) bruta e ajustada e respectivos intervalos de confiança (IC95%). Mantiveram-se associados ao near miss neonatal: mães com duas (OR = 1,63; IC95%: 1,01-2,63) ou três ou mais gestações anteriores (OR = 1,87; IC95%: 1,09-3,21), sem nenhum filho (OR = 2,57; IC95%: 1,56-4,24) ou com um filho vivo ao nascer (OR = 1,53; IC95%: 1,04-2,26), gravidez múltipla (OR = 4,57; IC95%: 2,95-7,07), menos de seis consultas de pré-natal (OR = 2,20; IC95%: 1,77-2,72), partos realizados em hospitais públicos/universitários (OR = 2,25; IC95%: 1,60-3,15) e filantrópicos (OR = 1,62; IC95%: 1,16-2,26), apresentação não cefálica (OR = 2,71; IC95%: 1,87-3,94) e trabalho de parto não induzido (OR = 1,47 IC95%: 1,18-1,84).

Training in preconception care focused on primary health care providers: Effects on preconception care knowledge and provision.

Objective: To assess the effect of a rapid training intervention on the knowledge of health providers and the provision of preconception care in primary health care services. Methods: Randomized community trial in eight primary health care facilities (four were randomly allocated to the intervention group and four to the control group) in 2020 in Brazil. The intervention consisted of rapid training in preconception health for all health providers in the intervention group. Health providers who had medicine and nursing backgrounds answered structured questionnaires about their knowledge and practices of preconception health-related topics, and reproductive-age women attending the services completed a questionnaire about their experience with preconception care in pre- and postintervention (three months after the intervention) periods. Findings: The level of knowledge among health providers increased after the intervention, but providing information about preconception care and prescribing folic acid showed no significant change, with the exception of screening for future pregnancy intention. Key conclusions and implications for practice: Although the knowledge of health providers on preconception care is a fundamental requirement for its provision in primary health care settings, rapid training focused on preconception health topics was not sufficient to change their practices, with the exception of pregnancy intention screening, which experienced a slight increase after the training. It appears that additional elements, such as the reorganization of primary health care services to prioritize non-pregnant women, the development and implementation of specific guidelines, along with strategies for the dissemination of preconception care awareness, may also play crucial roles for full preconception care implementation in addition to health providers' knowledge of such issues.

[Early and late neonatal death, characteristics of mothers and newborn]. / Obito neonatal precoce e tardio: perfil das mães e dos recém-nascidos".

The aim of the study was to analyze the profile of mothers and newborns who died in the early and late neonatal period. Descriptive, exploratory cross-sectional study that used secondary data obtained from the information systems of mortality, births and hospital records of mothers living in Cuiabá, who gave birth in 2010. We studied 77 deaths, of which 72.7% occurred in the early neonatal period. The early and late neonatal mortality rates were, respectively, 8.2, 6.0 and 2.2/1,000 live births. No difference was found in the profile of mothers and newborns who died in the early or late neonatal period. Characteristics that prevailed among the neonatal deaths were less than 7 prenatal visits, prematurity, low birth weight and Apgar score less than 7 at 1 minute. These results indicate the need for investment, especially in improving the quality of prenatal care in the city.

The BEM Program: An innovative online parenting program for socioeconomically disadvantaged caregiver-child dyads in Brazil.

Objective: To describe the BEM Program, an innovative online parenting program for socioeconomically disadvantaged caregiver-child dyads in Brazil. Methods: The Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist was used to describe the BEM Program in detail. Results: The BEM Program (an acronym for Brincar Ensina Mudar in Portuguese, "Play Teaches Change" in English) refers to the change in adult, child, and dyad outcomes that can be observed through incorporating playful interactions between the caregiver and their child into their daily household chores. Content consisting of 8 videos and 40 text and audio messages was sent entirely online through WhatsApp®. Thus, the Program could be accessed wherever caregivers wanted, if they had their smartphone and Internet access. Conclusions: The detailed description of an innovative online parenting program focused on caregiver-child interaction and child development contributes to the scarce evidence on this type of programs. Adherence to the program continues to represent one of the main challenges to overcome.

Play into the domestic routine to promote child development: cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the incorporation of play into the domestic routine of caregivers, and the child development of children under their care. METHOD: Cross-sectional study conducted with 129 caregiver-child dyads aged 12-23 months, living in the southern region of São Paulo. Child development was assessed using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire-3, and the incorporation of play into the domestic through a questionnaire and filming of the dyads in activities related to the domestic routine. RESULTS: Almost all the caregivers were the mother (98%), who, when answering the questionnaire, reported incorporating play into their domestic routine (93%), however in the video, only one third played with the child (34%). There was a positive association between playing in moments of domestic routine and domains of child development in children aged 18 months or less. CONCLUSIONS: A positive association was found between the incorporation of play into the domestic routine and child development.

Effects of an Online Play-Based Parenting Program on Child Development and the Quality of Caregiver-Child Interaction: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Studies assessing the effects of parenting programs have focused on interventions delivered through face-to-face modalities. There is a need for research to evaluate the effects of online parenting programs on child development, such as the BEM Program ('Play Teaches Change' in English), an online play-based parenting program that teaches caregivers on how to introduce playful interactions into their daily household chores. Objective: To assess the effects of the BEM Program on child development and the quality of caregiver-child interaction. Method: A two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in a socioeconomically disadvantaged district of São Paulo city in Brazil. 129 children aged 12-23 months and their caregiver were randomly assigned to receive either the BEM Program for 8 weeks (intervention, n = 66) or standard child care (control, n = 63). Data were collected at baseline and endline of the intervention through home visits and online interviews. An intention-to-treat analysis was conducted. Results: The intervention showed positive effects on child development, by improving language development (Cohen's d = 0.20, 95%CI 0.08-0.47) and reduced intrusiveness (Cohen's d = 0.35, 95%CI 0.06-0.65) of caregiver-child interaction. No significant differences were observed in caregiver's repertoire and engagement in age-appropriate play activities with the child while doing the household chores, parenting sense of competence and perceived stress. Conclusions: Despite the small size and low adherence to the program, such promising results advance evidences for fully remote parenting programs and their effects on child development.