Cervical Pessary for Prevention of Preterm Birth in Individuals With a Short Cervix: The TOPS Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: A short cervix as assessed by transvaginal ultrasound is an established risk factor for preterm birth. Study findings for a cervical pessary to prevent preterm delivery in singleton pregnancies with transvaginal ultrasound evidence of a short cervix have been conflicting. Objective: To determine if cervical pessary placement decreases the risk of preterm birth or fetal death prior to 37 weeks among individuals with a short cervix. Design, Setting, and Participants: We performed a multicenter, randomized, unmasked trial comparing a cervical pessary vs usual care from February 2017 through November 5, 2021, at 12 centers in the US. Study participants were nonlaboring individuals with a singleton pregnancy and a transvaginal ultrasound cervical length of 20 mm or less at gestations of 16 weeks 0 days through 23 weeks 6 days. Individuals with a prior spontaneous preterm birth were excluded. Interventions: Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive either a cervical pessary placed by a trained clinician (n = 280) or usual care (n = 264). Use of vaginal progesterone was at the discretion of treating clinicians. Main Outcome and Measures: The primary outcome was delivery or fetal death prior to 37 weeks. Results: A total of 544 participants (64%) of a planned sample size of 850 were enrolled in the study (mean age, 29.5 years [SD, 6 years]). Following the third interim analysis, study recruitment was stopped due to concern for fetal or neonatal/infant death as well as for futility. Baseline characteristics were balanced between participants randomized to pessary and those randomized to usual care; 98.9% received vaginal progesterone. In an as-randomized analysis, the primary outcome occurred in 127 participants (45.5%) randomized to pessary and 127 (45.6%) randomized to usual care (relative risk, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.83-1.20). Fetal or neonatal/infant death occurred in 13.3% of those randomized to receive a pessary and in 6.8% of those randomized to receive usual care (relative risk, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.13-3.32). Conclusions and Relevance: Cervical pessary in nonlaboring individuals with a singleton gestation and with a cervical length of 20 mm or less did not decrease the risk of preterm birth and was associated with a higher rate of fetal or neonatal/infant mortality. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02901626.

Estrategias de mejora de calidad en lactancia en recién nacidos muy bajo peso: revisión del tema / Breastfeeding quality improvement strategies in very low birth weight newborns / Revisao das estratégias de melhoria da qualidade na amamentação de recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso

El abordaje nutricional en los recién nacidos de muy bajo peso al nacimiento constituye un desafío en la práctica clínica de los neonatólogos, y muchas veces se aborda fuera del período crítico. Existe evidencia contundente de que la optimización nutricional precoz impacta en forma directamente proporcional en la sobrevida y sobrevida sin morbilidades mayores para este grupo. La implementación de lactancia materna precoz en este contexto debe ser una prioridad del equipo asistencial, siendo la mejora de calidad una herramienta de demostrada utilidad para mejorar los resultados en términos de mortalidad y morbilidad neonatal.

The nutritional approach of the very low birth weight infant poses a great challenge to most neonatologists in their clinical practice, and it is frequently delayed until de newborn is in stable clinical conditions. Currently, scientific evidence supports that early nutritional optimization impacts directly on this group's survival and on their survival without major morbidities. Initiatives fostering early breastfeeding should be prioritized by the healthcare team. Quality improvement has shown to be a very useful resource to improve outcomes regarding neonatal mortality and morbidities.

A abordagem nutricional do recém-nascido de muito baixo peso representa um grande desafio para a maioria dos neonatologistas em sua prática clínica, sendo frequentemente postergada até que o recém-nascido esteja em condições clínicas estáveis. Atualmente, evidências científicas sustentam que a otimização nutricional precoce impacta diretamente na sobrevivência desse grupo e na sobrevivência sem maiores morbidades. Iniciativas de incentivo ao aleitamento materno precoce devem ser priorizadas pela equipe de saúde. A melhoria da qualidade tem se mostrado um recurso muito útil para melhorar os desfechos em relação à mortalidade e morbidades neonatais.

Reducing maternal and child mortality in rural Ghana.

The lack of health infrastructure in developing countries to provide women with modern obstetric care and universal access to maternal and child health services has largely contributed to the existing high maternal and infant deaths. Access to basic obstetric care for pregnant women and their unborn babies is a key to reducing maternal and infants´ deaths, especially at the community-level. This calls for the strengthening of primary health care systems in all developing countries, including Ghana. Financial access and utilization of maternal and child health care services need action at the community-level across rural Ghana to avoid preventable deaths. Financial access and usage of maternal and child health services in rural Ghana is poor. Lack of financial access is a strong barrier to the use of maternal and child health services, particularly in rural Ghana. The sustainability of the national health insurance scheme is vital in ensuring full access to care in remote communities.

Delivery timing after laser surgery for twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) patients who underwent early elective delivery vs. expectant management. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of monochorionic diamniotic twins who underwent laser surgery for TTTS and had dual survivors at 32 weeks. Patients who underwent elective delivery between 32 0/7 to 35 6/7 weeks ("early elective group") were compared with all patients who delivered ≥36 0/7 weeks ("expectant management group"). The primary outcome was a composite of fetal and neonatal morbidity. RESULTS: The final study population was comprised of 15 early elective and 119 expectant management patients. Those in the early elective group were seven times more likely to experience the primary outcome (OR 7.38 [2.01-27.13], p = 0.0026). CONCLUSION: Among patients who underwent laser surgery for TTTS who had dual survivors at 32 weeks, elective delivery prior to 36 weeks did not appear to be protective.

Impacts of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) on infant mortality: a quasi-experimental study in the USA, 2003-2014.

OBJECTIVES: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the first mandatory market-based regulatory programme to limit regional carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the USA. Empirical evidence has shown that high concentrations of ambient air pollutants such as CO2 have been positively associated with an increased risk of morbidity (eg, respiratory conditions including asthma and lung cancer) and premature mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of RGGI on death rates in infancy. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We estimated the impacts of RGGI on infant mortality from 2003 through 2014 in the USA (6 years before and after RGGI implementation). Our analytic models included state- and year-fixed effects in addition to a number of covariates. OUTCOME MEASURES: Death rates in infancy: neonatal mortality rates (NMRs), deaths under 28 days as well as infant mortality rates (IMRs), deaths under 1 year. RESULTS: Implementation of RGGI was associated with significant decreases in overall NMRs (a reduction of 0.41/1000 live births) and male NMRs (a reduction of 0.43/1000 live births). However, RGGI did not have a significant effect on female NMRs. Similarly, overall IMRs and male IMRs decreased significantly by 0.37/1000 live births and 0.61/1000 live births, respectively, after implementation of RGGI while female IMRs were not significantly affected by RGGI. CONCLUSIONS: RGGI was associated with decreases in overall infant mortality and boy mortality through reducing air pollutant concentrations. Of note, the impact of this environmental policy on infant girls was much smaller.

Agreement between underlying cause and preventability of infant deaths before and after the investigation in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, 2014. / Concordância da causa básica e da evitabilidade dos óbitos infantis antes e após a investigação no Recife, Pernambuco, 2014.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the agreement and describe the causes and preventability of infant deaths before and after the investigation. METHODS: investigation files and death certificates of infants under one year, of mothers living in Recife, Brazil, in 2014 were used; the Cohen kappa index was adopted for agreement analysis of the underlying causes of death; the list of preventable causes of deaths by interventions of the Brazilian National Health System was also adopted. RESULTS: 183 infant deaths were analyzed, of which 117 (63.9%) had the underlying cause revised; before the investigation, 170 (92.2%) deaths were considered preventable, and after investigation, 178 (97.3%); there was reasonable agreement (0.338) regarding the underlying causes of death, and moderate (0.439) for preventability. CONCLUSION: infant mortality surveillance enabled the improvement of vital events information, contributing to the progress in the specification of underlying causes of death and in the preventability of infant death.

Atividades desenvolvidas pelos comitês de prevenção do óbito infantil e fetal: revisão integrativa / Actividades desarrolladas por los comités de prevención de la muerte infantil y fetal: revisión integradora / Activities developed by the committees of prevention of infant and fetal deaths: integrative review

RESUMO Objetivo Sistematizar o conhecimento sobre as atividades desenvolvidas por comitês que atuam com a prevenção do óbito infantil e fetal. Método Revisão integrativa de literatura, realizada no mês de novembro de 2015, nas bases de dados PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, LILACS, BDEnf e SciELO, utilizando as palavras-chave e descritores mortalidade infantil, óbito infantil, óbitos infantis, óbito fetal, óbitos fetais, mortalidade fetal, mortalidade neonatal, comitê de profissionais, comissão, comissões, comitês consultivos. Os 34 estudos selecionados foram organizados e analisados com auxílio do Microsoft Excel®. Resultados Há comitês de âmbito internacional, nacional, regional, estadual e municipal que analisam óbitos e realizam atividades para qualificar a assistência materno-infantil e alimentar os sistemas de informação em saúde. Conclusão Os comitês de prevenção do óbito infantil e fetal desenvolvem atividades de coleta, produção, análise e divulgação de informações relacionadas ao óbito com a finalidade de reduzir taxas de mortalidade infantil e fetal.

RESUMEN Objetivo Para sistematizar el conocimiento de las actividades desarrolladas por los comités que trabajan con la prevención del trabajo infantil y la muerte fetal. Método Revisión integrada de la literatura, que se celebró en noviembre de 2015, de las bases de datos PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, LILACS, BDEnf y SciELO, usando las palabras clave y descriptores de mortalidad infantil,mortalidad fetal intrauterina, mortinatos, mortalidad fetal, la mortalidad neonatal, del comité profesional, comisiones, comités de asesoramiento. Se organizaron los 34 estudios seleccionados y se los analizó utilizando Microsoft Excel®. Resultados Existen internacionalmente comités, nacional, regional, estatal y actividades escénicas locales para calificar los sistemas de información de salud materna e infantil y de los alimentos. Conclusión Los comités de prevención de la mortalidad infantil y fetal se desarrollan las actividades de recolección, producción, análisis y difusión de información relacionada con la muerte, a fin de reducir las tasas de mortalidad infantil y fetal.

ABSTRACT Objective To systematize knowledge on the activities developed by the committees involved in the prevention of infant and fetal deaths. Method Integrated literature review conducted in November 2015 at PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, LILACS, BDEnf and SciELO databases using keywords and descriptors of infant mortality, infant death, infant deaths, fetal death, fetal deaths, fetal mortality, neonatal mortality, professional committee, committee, committees, advisory committees. The 34 selected studies were organized and analyzed using Microsoft Excel®. Results International, national, regional, state and local committees analyze the deaths and conduct activities aimed to qualify maternal and childcare and feed the health information systems. Conclusion The committees for the prevention of infant and fetal mortality collect, produce, analyze and disseminate information related to these deaths in order to reduce infant and fetal mortality rates.

Classificações de evitabilidade dos óbitos infantis: diferentes métodos, diferentes repercussões? / Clasificaciones de evitabilidad de los óbitos infantiles: ¿diferentes métodos, diferentes repercusiones? / Classification systems for avoidability of infant deaths: different methods, different repercussions?

Resumo: O objetivo foi comparar a evitabilidade dos óbitos infantis e analisar os grupos de redutibilidade segundo os métodos de classificação. Estudo descritivo comparativo, realizado entre 2006 e 2013, no Espírito Santo, Brasil, por meio da classificação de 5.316 óbitos infantis, de acordo com cinco métodos de evitabilidade diferentes. Os métodos International Colaborative Effort on Infant Mortality (ICE) e a Fundação SEADE foram capazes de classificar a maior quantidade de óbitos em evitáveis e não evitáveis, respectivamente, 94,6% e 94,4%. Ressalta-se que a maioria das mortes foi em consequência de falhas na atenção ao pré-natal, ao parto e ao puerpério, independentemente do método de evitabilidade aplicado. Além disso, observou-se considerável número de óbitos ocorridos por causas “mal definidas” em todos os métodos, sugerindo a dificuldade de acesso ou assistência precária dos serviços de saúde. Nota-se que o emprego dos métodos de evitabilidade consiste em um importante instrumento para o diagnóstico das falhas de desempenho dos serviços de saúde e a orientação de medidas para reduzir os óbitos infantis evitáveis. Portanto, o fortalecimento da assistência materno-infantil, o investimento em treinamentos e a capacitação dos profissionais de saúde configuram-se como foco prioritário para o avanço de políticas públicas direcionadas à redução da mortalidade infantil.

Resumen: El objetivo fue comparar la evitabilidad de los óbitos infantiles y analizar los grupos de reducibilidad, según los métodos de clasificación. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo comparativo, realizado entre 2006 y 2013, en Espírito Santo, mediante la clasificación de 5.316 óbitos infantiles, de acuerdo con cinco métodos de evitabilidad diferentes. Los métodos International Colaborative Effort on Infant Mortality (ICE) y la Fundación SEADE fueron capaces de clasificar la mayor cantidad de óbitos en evitables y no evitables, respectivamente, 94,6% y 94,4%. Se resalta que la mayoría de las muertes fueron consecuencia de errores en la atención al pre-natal, al parto y al puerperio, independientemente del método de evitabilidad aplicado. Asimismo, se observó un considerable número de óbitos ocurridos por causas “mal definidas” en todos los métodos, sugiriendo la dificultad de acceso o asistencia precaria de los servicios de salud. Se nota que el empleo de los métodos de evitabilidad consiste en un importante instrumento para el diagnóstico de los errores de desempeño de los servicios de salud y la orientación de medidas para reducir los óbitos infantiles evitables. Por tanto, el fortalecimiento de la asistencia materno-infantil, la inversión en prácticas y la capacitación de los profesionales de salud se configuran como un foco prioritario para el avance de políticas públicas dirigidas a la reducción de la mortalidad infantil.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the avoidability of infant deaths according to different classification methods. This was a descriptive comparative study from 2006 to 2013 in Espírito Santo State, Brazil, focusing on the classification of 5,316 infant deaths according to five different methods. The methods of the International Collaborative Effort on Infant Mortality (ICE) and the SEADE Foundation correctly classified the highest proportions of deaths as avoidable versus unavoidable (94.6% and 94.4% correct classification, respectively). Most deaths resulted from quality problems in prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care, regardless of which classification method was used. There were also considerable numbers of deaths from “ill-defined” causes according to all the methods, suggesting difficulty in access or precious care in health services. Avoidability methods provide an important instrument for diagnosis of quality problems in health services performance and orientation of measures to reduce avoidable infant deaths. Thus, strengthening maternal and child care and investment in training and capacity-building for health professionals and services are priorities for public policies to reduce infant mortality.

Opiniao das maes sobre a posicao do bebe dormir apos campanha nacional: estudo de base populacional no extremo sul do Brasil / The opinion of mothers regarding babies' sleeping position after a national campaign: a population-based study in the far south of Brazil

Avaliou-se o conhecimento materno sobre a posição do bebê dormir após campanha nacional. MÉTODOS: aplicou-se questionário padronizado às mães que tiveram filho em 2010 em Rio Grande, RS. RESULTADOS: dentre as 2395 mães entrevistadas, 20 por cento referiram conforme campanha o decúbito dorsal como a melhor posição para o bebê dormir. Destas, 39 por cento disseram ter obtido este conhecimento junto à campanha nacional. Dentre aquelas que indicaram o decúbito lateral como posição correta, 74 por cento disseram ter aprendido com suas mães. CONCLUSÕES: evidencia-se potencial impacto da campanha nacional e importante influência da avó materna sobre a opinião das mães em colocar o bebê para dormir em decúbito dorsal...

To evaluate the knowledge of mother's regarding the sleeping position of babies after a national campaign. METHODS: a standardized questionnaire was applied to mothers who had had a baby in 2010 in Rio Grande, in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul. RESULTS: of the 2395 mothers interviewed, 20 per cent agreed with the campaign that the dorsal decubitus position is the best sleeping position for babies. Of these, 39 percent stated that they had obtained this information from the national campaign. Of those who stated that the lateral decubitus position was the correct one, 74 percent said that they had learnt this from their mothers. CONCLUSIONS: the study provides evidence of the potential impact of the national campaign and the important influence of the maternal grandmother on the opinion of mothers regarding placing babies in the dorsal decubitus position when sleeping...

Impact of education and provision of complementary feeding on growth and morbidity in children less than 2 years of age in developing countries: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: About one third of deaths in children less than 5 years of age are due to underlying undernutrition. According to an estimate, 19.4% of children <5 years of age in developing countries were underweight (weight-for-age Z score <-2) and about 29.9% were stunted in the year 2011 (height-for-age Z score <-2). It is well recognized that the period of 6-24 months of age is one of the most critical time for the growth of the infant. METHODS: We included randomized, non-randomized trials and programs on the effect of complementary feeding (CF) (fortified or unfortified, but not micronutrients alone) and education on CF on children less than 2 years of age in low and middle income countries (LMIC). Studies that delivered intervention for at least 6 months were included; however, studies in which intervention was given for supplementary and therapeutic purposes were excluded. Recommendations are made for input to the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) model by following standardized guidelines developed by Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG). RESULTS: We included 16 studies in this review. Amongst these, 9 studies provided education on complementary feeding, 6 provided complementary feeding (with our without education) and 1 provided both as separate arms. Overall, education on CF alone significantly improved HAZ (SMD: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.36), WAZ (SMD 0.16, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.27), and significantly reduced the rates of stunting (RR 0.71; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.91). While no significant impact were observed for height and weight gain. Based on the subgroup analysis; ten studies from food secure populations indicated education on CF had a significant impact on height gain, HAZ scores, and weight gain, however, stunting reduced non-significantly. In food insecure population, CF education alone significantly improved HAZ scores, WAZ scores and significantly reduced the rates of stunting, while CF provision with or without education improved HAZ and WAZ scores significantly. CONCLUSION: Complementary feeding interventions have a potential to improve the nutritional status of children in developing countries. However, large scale high quality randomized controlled trials are required to assess the actual impact of this intervention on growth and morbidity in children 6-24 months of age. Education should be combined with provision of complementary foods that are affordable, particularly for children in food insecure countries.