The impact of the interpregnancy interval on birth weight and other pregnancy outcomes / O impacto do intervalo entre gestações no peso de recém-nascidos e outros desfechos da gravidez

To investigate the relationship between the interpregnancy interval and low birth weight and other pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: this case-control study was carried out in hospitals from January 2010 to April 2011. For cases, mothers of 1216 newborns with birth weight<2500 g were approached and 854 mothers participated (70.2 percent). For controls, mothers of 1158 newborns with >2500 g were approached and 854 mothers participated in this study (73.7 percent). Face-to-face interviews were conducted to complete the questionnaires. RESULTS: of the newborn babies with low birth weight, the risk was higher among mothers with a short interpregnancy interval (40.3 percent), whereas for infants with normal birth weight, the majority of the mothers had a longer interpregnancy interval of 24 months (44.7 percent). A short interpregnancy interval of 612 months was more common among women of <25years (49.4 percent; p<0.001) and those who were illiterate (13.1 percent; p=0.043) with a higher risk of low birth weight compared to the controls. Prenatal care during the 1st trimester was lower in women with low birth weight children (p<0.001). Normal delivery was observed less in women with a short birth interval among cases (58.7 percent) compared to controls (79 percent) (p=0.001). A J-shaped association was observed between low birth weight and the interpregnancy interval. CONCLUSIONS: a short interpregnancy interval is associated with an increased risk of low birth weight, especially in younger and illiterate women...

Investigar a relação entre o intervalo entre gestações e o baixo peso de recém-nascidos e outras conseqüências da gestação. MÉTODOS: este estudo caso-controle foi realizado em hospitais entre janeiro de 2010 e abril de 2011. Dentre as mães dos 1216 recém-nascidos com peso <2500 g, 854 (70,2 por cento) aceitaram participar do estudo de caso. No grupo controle, dentre as mães dos 1158 recém-nascidos com peso > 2500 g, participaram 854(73,7 por cento). Para completar os questionários, foram conduzidas entrevistas face a face. RESULTADOS: dos recém-nascidos com baixo peso, o fator de risco foi mais alto entre as mães com curto intervalo intergestacional (40,3 por cento), enquanto para recém-nascidos com peso normal a maioria das mães tinham uma boa margem de intervalo intergestacional de 24 meses (44,7 por cento). Curtos intervalo intergestacional (6 a 12 meses) foi mais comum entre mulheres de <25 anos (49,4 por cento; p<0,001) e analfabetas (13,1 por cento; p=0,043), com mais alto risco de baixo peso quando comparado aos controle. Cuidados pre-natais durante o primeiro trimestre foi menor nas mulheres com crianças de baixo peso (p<0,001). Menos partos normais foi observado em mulheres com curtos intervalos de nascimento para os casos (58,7 por cento) comparados aos controles (79 por cento) (p=0,001). Uma associação não monotônica tipo função J, foi observada entre o baixo peso e intervalo intergestacional. CONCLUSÕES: um curto intervalo entre gestações é associado a um risco maior de nascerem bebês de baixo peso, principalmente entre mulheres mais jovens e analfabetas...

Risk factors contributing to road traffic crashes in a fast-developing country: the neglected health problem.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to explore the patterns of road traffic crashes (RTCs) among drivers in Qatar and to examine the contributing factors involved. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted from February to June 2009 at the Primary Health Care Centers in the State of Qatar. A random sample of 1675 Qatari drivers were approached, and 1228 of them responded and agreed to participate in this study, with a response rate of 74.6%. Face to face interview was conducted by well-trained research assistants based on a questionnaire covering sociodemographic information, driving history, type of vehicle, driver behavior, details of crashes, and accident pattern. RESULTS: The study revealed that 26.6% of the studied Qatari drivers were involved in RTCs. 69.4% of the drivers with a history of RTCs were male. Drivers in the age group 25-34 years showed a higher risk of having a crash (31.2%). Drivers of cars (45.6%) and 4WD/SUVs (23.5%) were more frequently involved in RTCs. 23.5% of drivers who had RTC did not always wear their seat belt while driving. 37.9% of the drivers with RTC were engaged in eating and drinking and 41.9% were using their mobile phones while driving. More than half of the drivers with RTCs had traffic violations (57.2%), with 25.7% exceeding the speed limit. A highly significant difference was observed between the two groups (drivers with and without RTC) in terms of presence of traffic violation (<0.001) and exceeding the speed limit (<0.001). Most of the crashes happened during sunny days (84.7%) with fewer crashes on holidays (5.5%) and weekends (12.5%). Overturn skid (17.7%), angle collision (14.3%) and rear-end hit (10.7%) were the most frequently reported patterns of RTCs. CONCLUSION: The study findings revealed the high risk of RTCs among drivers in the State of Qatar. Among the sociodemographic factors, male drivers and young drivers aged 25-34 years were found to have a higher accident involvement. Human behavior was identified as the main contributing factor of all RTCs, especially presence of traffic violations.