Insufficient Answer During the Public Health Emergency: A Lesson from the Persistence of Food Insecurity in Low-Income Communities.

Cohort study in deprived communities to investigate the persistence of food insecurity (FI) during the COVID-19 was conducted. Sample were derived from a list of mobile phone numbers provided by community leaders and local nonprofit organizations. Temporal trends and prevalence ratios of FI persistence, categorized as "never," "occasional FI," "consistent FI," were calculated. A total of 302 households completed three assessments, the majority nonwhite women. During the follow-up, families covered by social assistance increased; however, their income decreased (p < 0.05). 33% were "consistent," and 46% "occasional" FI. Permanent difficulties accessing gas canisters, hygiene products, and hand sanitizers were observed.

Exposure to ultra-processed foods during pregnancy and ultrasound fetal growth parameters.

Periconceptional maternal ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption impairs embryonic growth. Impacts of exposure to UPF on distinct components of fetal growth in late pregnancy are unknown. We investigated the influence of frequency of UPF consumption during pregnancy on fetal head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL). This study included 417 live-born singleton pregnancies prospectively followed-up since the antenatal period in the MINA-Brazil Study, with an available ultrasound scan at >24 gestational weeks. Frequency of food groups consumption in the previous month was categorised as no/monthly, weekly or daily. Ultrasound scans were conducted at 27·8 (sd: 1·7) gestational weeks. HC, AC and FL z-scores were calculated for gestational age using the INTERGROWTH-21st Project standards. Simultaneous-quantile regression models were fitted at the 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles of the distribution of each ultrasound parameter according to UPF consumption, with adjustment for potential confounders. Participants were aged on average 24·7 (sd: 6·5) years, 44·8 % were primiparous, and 26·9 % and 24·9 %, respectively, had weekly and daily UPF consumption. Compared with no/monthly intake, daily UPF consumption impaired HC across its distribution, with significant effect sizes varying from -0·24 to -0·40 z-score. Weekly UPF consumption decreased HC at the 90th percentile by -0·39 z-score (95 % CI: -0·78, -0·01) and FL at the 50th percentile by -0·32 z-score (95 % CI: -0·60, -0·04). No association was noted with AC. Frequency of UPF consumption was negatively associated with skeletal components of fetal growth in late pregnancy. Infant body composition may benefit from healthy food practices since pregnancy.

Time trends and social inequalities in infant and young child feeding practices: national estimates from Brazil's Food and Nutrition Surveillance System, 2008-2019.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the time trends and socio-economic inequalities in infant and young child feeding practices in accordance with the Brazilian deprivation index (BDI). DESIGN: This time-series study analysed the prevalence of multiple breast-feeding and complementary feeding indicators based on data from the Brazilian Food and Nutrition Surveillance System, 2008-2019. Prais-Winsten regression models were used to analyse time trends. Annual percent change (APC) and 95 % CI were calculated. SETTING: Primary health care services, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Totally, 911 735 Brazilian children under 2 years old. RESULTS: Breast-feeding and complementary feeding practices differed between the extreme BDI quintiles. Overall, the results were more favourable in the municipalities with less deprivation (Q1). Improvements in some complementary feeding indicators were observed over time and evidenced such disparities: minimum dietary diversity (Q1: Δ 47·8-52·2 %, APC + 1·44, P = 0·006), minimum acceptable diet (Q1: Δ 34·5-40·5 %, APC + 5·17, P = 0·004) and consumption of meat and/or eggs (Q1: Δ 59·7-80·3 %, APC + 6·26, P < 0·001; and Q5: Δ 65·7-70·7 %, APC + 2·20, P = 0·041). Stable trends in exclusive breast-feeding and decreasing trends in the consumption of sweetened drinks and ultra-processed foods were also observed regardless the level of the deprivation. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in some complementary food indicators were observed over time. However, the improvements were not equally distributed among the BDI quintiles, with children from the municipalities with less deprivation benefiting the most.

Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and child weight during the first 2 years of life in an Amazonian birth cohort.

BACKGROUND: In socially vulnerable populations, evidence is needed regarding the role of maternal nutritional status on child weight during the first 2 years of life. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the association of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with offspring BMI-for-age z-scores (BAZs) during the first 2 years of life. METHODS: A population-based birth cohort study was conducted with 900 mother-child pairs. Pre-pregnancy weight and weight at delivery were collected from medical records, and anthropometric data were measured at birth and at 6-month, 1-year and 2-year follow-up visits. Linear regression and linear mixed-effect models assessed associations with pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG and BAZ during the first 2 years of life. RESULTS: Pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity and excessive GWG were positively associated with BAZ at birth and at 1- and 2-year follow-up visits. There were no significant additional BAZ changes per year based on the exposures up to age 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG were associated with a child's higher BAZ at birth, and these differences remained constant throughout the first 2 years of life in Amazonian children. These findings highlight the importance of promoting adequate maternal weight before pregnancy and during prenatal care also in socially vulnerable populations.

Self-efficacy among health professionals to manage therapeutic groups of patients with obesity: Scale development and validity evidences.

Health professionals have to be confident to manage therapeutic groups of patients with obesity considering the potential of such approach to organize and provide health care. This study aimed to validate the scale of self-efficacy among health professionals to manage therapeutic groups of patients with obesity. Items were developed by an interprofessional group based on theoretical references on humanized healthcare. Scope, relevance, clarity, and comprehensibility of items and response options were evaluated by experts and health professionals. Using factor analysis and item response theory analysis, items with better discrimination were selected. The interpretation of the scores was proposed with a description of the self-efficacy around different levels. All steps were conducted using online forms. A pool of 21 items was proposed with up to five response options. Experts and health professionals retained 17 items with few changes in wording and four response options. The final scale was composed of 17 items, from which we derived three levels of self-efficacy (low, moderate, high). This study conceived a simple tool to assess health professionals' confidence in managing obesity in therapeutic groups, which may be helpful in designing and measuring the impact of interprofessional education programs to leverage health assistance quality.

Food categorizations among low-income women living in three different urban contexts: The pile sorting method.

Transformations in eating practices are reflected in the multiplicity of competing food-related discourses. These discourses contribute to different food categorizations among individuals. Scientists have long argued that food categorizations may help understanding cultural systems of health beliefs. However, not enough work has been conducted to improve the understanding of the dimensions of food categorizations and their interface with food choices, tastes, and culturally defined food systems. This study aims at describing and interpreting how low-income women living in three urban settings in Santos, Brazil, classify and give meaning to foods. We used the pile sorting method to investigate categorizations created by 90 women, following 6 steps: (1) creating units of analysis, (2) sorting the units of analysis into piles, (3) running multidimensional scaling analysis, (4) running cluster analyses on the multidimensional scaling coordinates, (5) labelling the clusters, and (6) analyzing consensus among the participants. The final solution to food categorizations comprised six clusters, namely: home meals, convenience foods, special meals, fish, breads and cereals, and hot dogs. Additionally, we observed four rationales for food categorization: frequency of consumption, degree of healthfulness, personal taste, and meals in which the food was usually part of. These categories highlight the importance of considering personal taste and the type of meal that the food is culturally consumed in, to propose meaningful interventions and appropriate education tools, towards promoting healthy eating practices, especially among vulnerable populations.

Family meals and eating practices among mothers in Santos, Brazil: A population-based study.

This study investigates family meals among mothers and explores associations between eating with family and sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index, and eating practices. A population-based cross-sectional study, using complex cluster-sampling, was conducted in the city of Santos, Brazil with 439 mothers. Frequency of family meals was assessed by asking if mothers did or did not usually have a) breakfast, b) lunch, and c) dinner with family. Linear regression analyses were conducted for the number of meals eaten with family per day and each of the potential explanatory variables, adjusting for the mother's age. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to analyze each factor associated with eating with family as classified categorically: a) sharing meals with family, b) not eating any meals with family. Only 16.4% (n = 72) of participants did not eat any meals with family. From the 83.6% (n = 367) of mothers that had at least one family meal per day, 69.70% (n = 306) ate dinner with their families. Mothers aged ≥40 years reported significantly fewer meals eaten with family compared to mothers aged 30-39 years (ß: -0.26, p = 0.04). Having family meals was 54% more prevalent among mothers with ≥12 years of education (PR for no meals eaten with family: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.30; 0.96, p = 0.03), when compared to mothers with less than nine years of education. Eating no meals with family was 85% more prevalent among mothers who reported that eating was one of the biggest pleasures in their lives (PR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.21; 2.82, p = 0.004). We suggest the need for further research investigating the effects of family meals on mothers' health through nutritional and phenomenological approaches.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Levels, BsmI Polymorphism and Insulin Resistance in Brazilian Amazonian Children.

Vitamin D is associated with a wide range of other functions beyond bone development. We evaluated the factors associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in 974 children aged ≤ 10 years and the impact of BsmI polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene (rs1544410) on metabolic parameters in a subsample (n: 430) with a follow-up 2 years later from the initial population-based cross-sectional study. Multiple linear regression models were used in the analyses. The prevalence (95% CI) of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency of children was 11.1% (9.2-13.2), 21.8% (19.2-24.5) and 67.2% (64.1-70.1), respectively. Overall, 23% of the variation in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations was accounted for by BsmI polymorphism ß = -0.053 (95% CI) (-0.100, -0.006), maternal schooling (≥ 9 years) ß = 0.100 (0.039, 0.161), serum vitamin E ß = 0.478 (0.381, 0.574), total cholesterol concentration ß = 0.232 (0.072, 0.393) and serum folate ß = 0.064 (0.013, 0.115). BsmI polymorphism was positively associated with HOMA-IR ß = 0.122 (0.002, 0.243) and fasting glucose concentration ß = 1.696 (0.259, 3.133). In conclusion, variables related to socioeconomic level, the presence of the allele risk for BsmI and other nutrient concentrations were associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations. Our results suggest that BsmI polymorphism is correlated with metabolic outcomes.

Factors associated with stunting and overweight in Amazonian children: a population-based, cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of stunting and overweight in children and identify demographic, socio-economic and maternal characteristics, as well as biochemical indicators, associated with these outcomes. DESIGN: A population-based, cross-sectional study was performed. Data from structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and blood and stool samples were used in Poisson regression models to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) according to a hierarchical conceptual framework. SETTING: Acrelândia, western Brazilian Amazon. SUBJECTS: Children (n 1139) aged <10 years. RESULTS: Prevalence of stunting was 7·1 % (95 % CI 5·1, 9·6 %) and 3·7 % (95 % CI 2·4, 5·7 %) among children aged <5 years and ≥5 years, respectively; overweight was detected in 20·6 % (95 % CI 17·4, 24·2 %) and 9·4 % (95 % CI 7·2, 12·1 %) of children aged <5 years and ≥5 years, respectively. Among children <5 years of age, stunting was positively associated with the lowest maternal height tertile (PR = 3·09, 95 % CI 1·26, 7·63), low birth weight (PR = 2·70, 95 % CI 1·41, 5·19), diarrhoea for ≥3d (PR = 2·21, 95 % CI 1·03, 4·77) and geohelminth infections (PR = 2·53, 95 % CI 1·02, 6·13). Overweight in children <5 years of age was positively associated with caesarean delivery (PR = 1·45, 95 % CI 1·02, 2·06), birth weight ≥3500 g (PR = 1·82, 95 % CI 1·30, 2·55) and Fe deficiency (PR = 1·64, 95 % CI 1·07, 2·53). Among children aged ≥5 years, land or livestock ownership (PR = 1·85, 95 % CI 1·07, 3·22), maternal overweight (PR = 2·06, 95 % CI 1·23, 3·47), high C-reactive protein concentration (PR = 2·43, 95 % CI 1·26, 4·70), vitamin A deficiency (PR = 1·97, 95 % CI 1·13, 3·41) and high serum TAG concentration (PR = 2·16, 95 % CI 1·27, 3·68) were associated with overweight. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight was more prevalent than stunting, being associated with higher household wealth, maternal overweight, caesarean delivery, high birth weight, micronutrient deficiencies and high TAG concentration. Improvements in maternal and child health care with sustainable access to healthy food are necessary to reduce short- and long-term health complications related to overweight in this population.

Birth-to-childhood tracking of linear growth and weight gain in the MINA-Brazil Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate birth-to-childhood tracking of linear growth and weight gain across the distribution of length/height and weight for age z-scores and according to household wealth. METHODS: Data from 614 children from the MINA-Brazil Study with repeated anthropometric measurements at birth and up to age five years were used. Z-scores were calculated for length/height (HAZ) and weight (WAZ) according to international standards. Birth-to-childhood tracking was separately estimated using quantile regression models for HAZ and WAZ, extracting coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) at the 25th, 50th, and 75th quantiles. In a subgroup analysis, we estimated tracking between birth and age two years, and between ages two and five years. To investigate disparities in tracking, interaction terms between household wealth indexes (at birth and age five years) and newborn size z-scores were included in the models. RESULTS: Tracking coefficients were significant and had similar magnitude across the distribution of anthropometric indices at age five years (HAZ, 50th quantile: 0.23, 95%CI: 0.11 to 0.35; WAZ, 50th quantile: 0.31, 95%CI: 0.19 to 0.43). Greater tracking was observed between ages two and five years, with coefficients above 0.82. Significantly higher tracking of linear growth was observed among children from wealthier households, both at birth, at the lower bounds of HAZ distribution (25th quantile: 0.30, 95%CI: 0.13 to 0.56), and during childhood, in the entire HAZ distribution at five years. For weight gain, stronger tracking was observed at the upper bounds of WAZ distribution at age five years among children from wealthier households at birth (75th quantile: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.35 to 0.83) and during childhood (75th quantile: 0.54, 95%CI: 0.15 to 0.93). CONCLUSION: There was significant tracking of HAZ and WAZ since birth, with indication of substantial stability of nutritional status between ages two and five years. Differential tracking according to household wealth should be considered for planning early interventions for preventing malnutrition.

Adolescent pregnancy in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil: socioeconomic characteristics, prenatal and obstetric care. / Parturientes adolescentes em Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brasil: características socioeconômicas e obstétricas.

The present study aimed to investigate the socioeconomic and obstetric characteristics of adolescent mothers and the complications they cause to maternal and neonatal health. This baseline data analysis of the MINA-Brazil birth cohort was conducted in the municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul, state of Acre, Brazil. The chi-square test was used to compare characteristics of adolescent and adult postpartum women, and multiple Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to assess associated factors. Among the postpartum women, 26.2% (95%CI: 24.0-28.4) were adolescents. Factors associated with childbirth in adolescence included: nine years or less of schooling (adjPR:1.36; 95%CI: 1.14-1.61), belongs to the lowest quartiles of the wealth index (1st quartile: adjPR:1.40; 95%CI: 1.08-1.80) (2nd quartile: adjPR:1.37; 95%CI: 1.08-1.74), primigravidae (adjPR:3.69; 95%CI: 2.98-4.57), low pre-pregnancy BMI (adjPR:1.28; CI95%: 1.04-1.57), urinary tract infection during pregnancy (adjPR:1.25; CI95%: 1.07-1.46) and less than six prenatal consultations (adjPR:1.42; 95%CI: 1.21-1.66). Poverty, little schooling, primigravidae, low pre-pregnancy BMI, urinary tract infection during pregnancy and few prenatal consultations were associated with childbirth during adolescence in a municipality in the Northern region of Brazil.

O objetivo do estudo foi investigar as características socioeconômicas e obstétricas de parturientes adolescentes e suas complicações sobre a saúde materna e neonatal. Trata-se de uma análise de dados da linha de base da coorte de nascimentos MINA-Brasil conduzida no município de Cruzeiro do Sul, estado do Acre. Utilizou-se teste qui-quadrado para comparar características das puérperas adolescentes com as adultas e modelos múltiplos de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta para avaliar fatores associados. Entre as puérperas estudadas, 26,2% (IC95%: 24,0-28,4) eram adolescentes. Os fatores associados ao parto na adolescência foram ter nove anos ou menos de estudo (RPaj:1,36; IC95%: 1,14-1,61), pertencer aos menores quartis do índice de riqueza (1° quartil: RPaj:1,40; IC95%: 1,08-1,80) (2° quartil: RPaj:1,37; IC95%: 1,08-1,74), ser primigesta (RPaj:3,69; IC95%: 2,98-4,57), baixo IMC pré-gestacional (RPaj:1,28; IC95%: 1,04-1,57), infecção urinária na gravidez (RPaj:1,25; IC95%: 1,07-1,46) e menos de seis consultas de pré-natal (RPaj:1,42; IC95%: 1,21-1,66). Pobreza, baixa escolaridade, primigestação, baixo IMC pré-gestacional, infecção urinária na gestação e menor número de consultas de pré-natal foram associados ao parto na adolescência em município da região Norte do Brasil.

Sisvan food intake markers: structure and measurement invariance in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the internal structure of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sisvan) form of food intake markers for individuals over 2 years of age and to investigate measurement invariance between Brazilian macro-regions, life stages and over the years. METHODS: A parallel analysis with factor estimation was carried out, complemented with exploratory factor analysis using all Sisvan records with valid responses in the country in 2015 (n = 298,253). Only the first record per individual was considered. Next, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to investigate configural, metric and scalar invariance between the five macro-regions (Midwest, Northeast, North, Southeast, South) and life stages (children, adolescents, adults, elderly) in the same reference year. Invariance was evaluated longitudinally using valid individual records from 2015 to 2019 (n = 4,578,960). The adequacy of fit indices was observed at each step. RESULTS: Acceptable fit indices and adequate factor loadings were found for a two-dimensional model, which grouped ultra-processed foods (factor 1) and unprocessed or minimally processed foods (factor 2). The two-dimensional structure, with the respective items in each factor underlying the set of markers, was equivalent across macro-regions, life stages and longitudinally, confirming the configural invariance. The weights of each item and its scale were homogeneous for all groups of interest, confirming metric and scalar invariances. CONCLUSIONS: The internal structure of the Sisvan form of food intake markers adequately reflected its conceptual foundation, with stability of factors related to healthy and unhealthy eating in configuration, weights and scale in the investigated categories. These findings qualify food and nutritional surveillance actions, enhancing the use of Sisvan food intake markers in research, monitoring, individual guidance, and care production in the Brazilian Unified Health System.

Food intake markers in Sisvan: temporal trends in coverage and integration with e-SUS APS, Brazil 2015-2019. / Marcadores do consumo alimentar do Sisvan: tendência temporal da cobertura e integração com o e-SUS APS, 2015-2019.

The aim of the present study was to estimate the population coverage of recording food intake markers in Brazil's Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sisvan) and mean annual percent change (APC) in coverage according to the system used for data entry (e-SUS APS and Sisvan Web). We conducted an ecological time series study of the period 2015-2019. The data were stratified into region and age group. APC in coverage was calculated using Prais-Winsten regression and the correlation between APC and HDI, GDP per capita and primary healthcare coverage was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Population coverage of recording food intake markers at national level was 0.92% in 2019. Mean APC in coverage throughout the period was 45.63%. The region and age group with the highest coverage rate were the Northeast (4.08%; APC=45.76%, p<0.01) and children aged 2-4 years (3.03%; APC=34.62%, p<0.01), respectively. There was an upward trend in data entry using e-SUS APS, to the detriment of Sisvan Web. There was a positive correlation between APC in coverage using e-SUS APS and HDI and GDP per capita in some age groups. Population coverage of recording Sisvan food intake markers remains low across the country. The e-SUS APS has the potential to be an important strategy for expanding food and nutrition surveillance.

O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar a cobertura populacional e a taxa de incremento anual (TIA) média, em âmbito nacional, do registro de marcadores do consumo alimentar do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional (Sisvan), entre 2015 e 2019, considerando a entrada dos dados via Estratégia e-SUS APS e Sisvan Web. Trata-se de estudo ecológico de séries temporais, com estratificação por macrorregiões e faixas etárias. A TIA da cobertura foi calculada utilizando regressão de Prais-Winsten e a correlação com IDH, PIB per capita e cobertura da APS foi avaliada por teste de Spearman. A cobertura populacional do registro de marcadores de consumo alimentar no país foi de 0,92% em 2019, com TIA significante de 45,63% desde 2015. As maiores coberturas foram observadas na região Nordeste (4,08%; TIA=45,76%, p<0,01) e em crianças entre 2 e 4 anos (3,03%; TIA=34,62%, p<0,01). Houve tendência crescente para a entrada dos dados via e-SUS APS, em detrimento do Sisvan Web. A TIA da cobertura dos registros via e-SUS APS exibiu correlação positiva com IDH e PIB per capita em alguns recortes etários. A cobertura populacional do registro de marcadores de consumo alimentar do Sisvan ainda se mostra incipiente no país e o e-SUS APS parece ser uma estratégia relevante para sua expansão.

Food and Nutrition Surveillance System markers predict diet quality.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the performance of food consumption markers of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sisvan) in assessing the overall dietary quality. METHODS: The study was carried out based on the reproduction of responses to markers in 24-hour recall data from 46,164 individuals aged ≥ 10 years, from the 2017-2018 Household Budget Survey (POF). Seven Sisvan markers were evaluated, and two scores were calculated for each participant, based on the sum of the number of healthy food markers (beans, fruits, and vegetables, ranging from 0 to 3) and unhealthy (hamburgers/sausages, sweetened beverages, instant noodles/salt snacks/crackers, stuffed cookies/sweets/candies, ranging from 0 to 4) consumed. Linear regression analyses were used to assess the association between scores and diet quality indicators (ultra-processed foods, dietary diversity, and levels of saturated and trans fat, added sugar, sodium, potassium, and fiber in the diet). RESULTS: The score of healthy eating markers increased significantly with increasing dietary diversity and potassium and fiber contents in the diet, while the opposite trend was observed for the densities of added sugar, sodium, saturated and trans fat (p < 0.001). The score of unhealthy eating markers increased significantly with the increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods and densities of added sugar, saturated and trans fat levels in the diet, while an inverse trend was observed for potassium and fiber (p < 0.001). The joint analysis of the combination of the two marker scores showed that individuals with better performance (3 in the healthy food score, and 0 in the unhealthy food score) have a lower number of inadequacies in nutrient consumption. CONCLUSION: Sisvan food consumption markers, quickly and easily applied and already incorporated into the Brazilian public health system, have good potential to reflect the overall dietary quality.

Predictors of 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations during pregnancy: A longitudinal analysis in the Brazilian Amazon.

OBJECTIVES: To determine predictors of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) concentrations (25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles) in the third trimester of pregnancy. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data on sociodemographic, obstetric, lifestyle and pregnancy characteristics, including serum 25(OH)D3 and retinol, were collected among 448 pregnant women who participated in the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre, Brazil (MINA-Brazil Study) in Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazilian Amazon (latitude 7°S). Simultaneous-quantile regression was fitted to prospectively assess predictors at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles of 25(OH)D3 concentrations. RESULTS: In the third trimester, 25(OH)D3 <50 nmol/L was observed in 26% of pregnant women. Exposure to the Amazonian dry season during follow-up and vitamin D status ≥75 nmol/L in the second trimester of pregnancy were positively associated with 25(OH)D3 concentrations in the third trimester. Pregnant women who were the main providers of family income presented lower 25(OH)D3 concentrations (50th and 75th percentiles: -15 nmol/L, 95%CI -24; -3, p = 0.02, and -22 nmol/L, 95%CI -36; -7, p = 0.004, respectively), as well as those with sustained vitamin A insufficiency (25th and 50th percentiles: -27 nmol/L, 95%CI -40; -15, p < 0.001, and -17 nmol/L, 95%CI -33; -1, p = 0.04, respectively). Sun protection practices had a smaller negative impact on 25(OH)D3, restricted to participants whose concentrations were at the 25th percentile of the distribution. CONCLUSIONS: Seasonality and vitamin A status were important predictors of 25(OH)D3 concentrations in the third trimester. Adequate exposure to sunlight and dietary sources of vitamin A within safe intake levels may help ensuring a good nutritional status of vitamin D during pregnancy.

Health outcomes of the Bolsa Família program among Brazilian Amazonian children.

OBJECTIVE: One of the primary objectives of Brazil's conditional cash transfer program, Bolsa Família, is to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty by improving human capital via conditionalities. In this study, we hypothesized that health indicators of Bolsa Família participants would be comparable to those of other local children who were nonparticipants after two years of follow-up in the city of Acrelândia, Acre state, Western Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: Data from a population-based longitudinal study were analyzed to examine school enrollment, vaccination coverage, height and body mass index for age z-scores, and biomarkers of micronutrient deficiencies (iron and vitamin A) between Bolsa Família participants (n = 325) and nonparticipants (n = 738). RESULTS: Out of 1063 children 10 years and younger included in the 2007 baseline survey, 805 had anthropometric measurements and 402 had biochemical indicators in the 2009 follow-up survey. Prevalence rate ratio (PRR) for non-enrollment in school at 4 years of age was 0.58 (95%CI: 0.34-1.02) when comparing Bolsa Família participants with nonparticipants. No difference was found for vaccination coverage, which was insufficient for most vaccine-preventable diseases. Bolsa Família participants were less likely to show a positive change in body mass index for age z-scores compared with nonparticipants (PRR = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.70-0.95), while a positive change in height for age z-scores was similar in the groups. No differences in micronutrient deficiencies were found between groups after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Early school enrollment and consistent nutritional indicators between Bolsa Família participants and nonparticipants suggest Bolsa Família was facilitating similarities between groups over time.

Cohort profile: the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre, Brazil, birth cohort study (MINA-Brazil).

PURPOSE: Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre, Brazil (MINA-Brazil) is a longitudinal, prospective population-based birth cohort, set-up to understand the effects of early environmental exposures and maternal lifestyle choices on growth and development of the Amazonian children. PARTICIPANTS: Mother-baby pairs (n=1246) were enrolled at delivery from July 2015 to June 2016 in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil. Mothers of 43.7% of the cohort were recruited in the study during pregnancy from February 2015 to January 2016. Study visits took place during pregnancy, delivery, at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after delivery. In addition to clinical and epidemiological data, samples collected by the MINA-Brazil study include plasma, serum and extracted DNA from blood and faeces, which are stored in a biobank. FINDINGS TO DATE: Key baseline reports found a high prevalence of gestational night blindness (11.5%; 95% CI 9.97% to 13.25%) and maternal anaemia (39.4%; 95% CI 36.84% to 41.95%) at delivery. Antenatal malaria episodes (74.6% of Plasmodium vivax) were diagnosed in 8.0% of the women and were associated with an average reduction in birth weight z-scores of 0.35 (95% CI 0.14 to 0.57) and in birth length z-scores of 0.31 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.54), compared with malaria-free pregnancies. At 2-year follow-up, data collection strategies combined telephone calls, WhatsApp, social media community and home visits to minimise losses of follow-up (retention rate of 79.5%). FUTURE PLANS: A 5-year follow-up visit is planned in 2021 with similar interviews and biospecimens collection. The findings from this prospective cohort will provide novel insights into the roles of prenatal and postnatal factors in determining early childhood development in an Amazonian population.

Agreement between antenatal gestational age by ultrasound and clinical records at birth: A prospective cohort in the Brazilian Amazon.

This study aimed to assess agreement between antenatal estimates of gestational age by ultrasound and clinical records at birth in the Brazilian Amazon. Ultrasound examinations were scheduled during the second trimester for 578 pregnant women prospectively screened at primary health care units, following a standardized protocol for image quality control. A multistage algorithm was used to assess the best estimate of gestational age during the antenatal period, considering reliability of last menstrual period (LMP) and acceptable differences in relation to ultrasound estimates derived from fetal biparietal diameter and femur length. Agreement of antenatal estimates of gestational age confirmed by ultrasound and clinical records at birth was analyzed with Bland-Altman plots and kappa coefficients (preterm and postterm births). Overall, ultrasound examinations presented high quality (>90% of satisfactory images), and were adopted as the best estimate of gestational age among 83.4% of pregnant women, confirming reliable LMP in the remaining proportion. On average, difference in gestational age between antenatal estimates and clinical records was 0.43 week (95% CI: 0.32, 0.53). Classification of preterm births had a good agreement (kappa: 0.82, p<0.001), but a poor performance was observed for postterm births (kappa: -0.06, p = 0.92). Higher differences in gestational age were noted for participants with >11 years of education and cases of caesarean deliveries. In conclusion, high-quality ultrasound images from the second trimester of pregnancy based the assessment of gestational age, while reliability of LMP was limited. Information from clinical records at birth presented an acceptable agreement on average and for classification of preterm births, which is relevant for properly interpreting perinatal outcomes. Discrepancies in caesarean deliveries may warrant further investigation.

[Blood pressure levels and associated factors among pregnant women of the MINA-Brazil Study]. / Níveis pressóricos e fatores associados em gestantes do Estudo MINA-Brasil.

The scope of this study was to investigate the factors associated with blood pressure levels among pregnant women participating in the MINA-Brazil Study, registered in the Family Health Strategy in Cruzeiro do Sul in the Western Brazilian Amazon. Multiple linear regression models were used, adopting a level of significance of 5%. The majority of pregnant participants were less than 24 years of age, 44% were primigravidae, and 59.1% had excessive weekly gestational weight gain. The frequency of hypertension was 0.7%. Factors positively associated with systolic blood pressure levels in pregnancy were pre-pregnancy body mass index (ß = 0.984, CI95%: 0.768-1.200), and weekly gestational weight gain (ß = 6.816, CI95%: 3.368-10.264). Diastolic blood pressure levels in pregnancy were positively associated with maternal age (ß = 0.111, CI95%: 0.002-0.221), maternal schooling (ß = 2.194, CI95%: 0.779-3.609), pre-pregnancy body mass index (ß = 0.589, CI95%: 0.427-0.751), and weekly gestational weight gain (ß = 3.066, CI95%: 0.483-5.650). These findings stress the importance of the role of antenatal care to prevent hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os fatores associados aos níveis pressóricos em gestantes participantes do Estudo MINA-Brasil, inscritas no pré-natal da Estratégia de Saúde da Família em Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Amazônia Ocidental Brasileira. Modelos múltiplos de regressão linear foram utilizados, adotando-se nível de significância de 5%. A maioria das gestantes participantes tinha média de idade de 24 anos (DP 6,3), 44,0% eram primigestas e 59,1% das gestantes apresentaram ganho de peso gestacional semanal excessivo. A ocorrência de hipertensão arterial foi de 0,7%. Os fatores associados positivamente aos níveis de pressão arterial sistólica foram: índice de massa corporal pré-gestacional (ß = 0,984, IC95%: 0,768-1,200) e ganho de peso gestacional semanal (ß = 6,816, IC95%: 3,368-10,264). Para os níveis de pressão arterial diastólica foram positivamente associados idade da gestante (ß = 0,111, IC95%: 0,002-0,221), escolaridade (ß = 2,194, IC95%: 0,779-3,609), índice de massa corporal pré-gestacional (ß = 0,589, IC95%: 0,427-0,751) e ganho de peso gestacional semanal (ß = 3,066, IC95%: 0,483-5,650). Esses resultados reforçam a necessidade de maior atenção pré-natal no cuidado materno para prevenção de distúrbios hipertensivos no final da gravidez.

Signs and strategies to deal with food insecurity and consumption of ultra-processed foods among Amazonian mothers.

Although food insecurity configures a public health issue in developing countries going through nutrition transition, there is still lack of evidence on how it is affected by social determinants and its relationship with ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption. Using qualitative methods, we investigated the experience of food (in)security among mothers living in the Brazilian Amazon area, identifying aspects of food insecurity promoting UPF consumption. In-depth interviews were performed with 40 women and inductive content analysis was used. Signs of food insecurity included difficulties in food affordability and irregular access to food. Strategies to deal with lack of food quantity took place during food production (growing foods and raising animals), acquisition (gaining food, shopping incentives and food substitutions) and preparation (creativity in cooking). Not being able to afford staple foods was the main aspect of food insecurity promoting UPF consumption, as fresh foods were substituted by UFP options. Our study contributes to the current literature by presenting explanatory insights about the inconclusive quantitative results on the relationship between food insecurity and UPF consumption. Additionally, it supports the need of policies and interventions focused on promoting sustainable food systems and the regional food culture, which may approach food insecurity through an intersectional perspective.