Rural-urban differences in physical activity and TV-viewing in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to compare differences regarding physical activity (PA) indicators and TV viewing according to location of residence and sociodemographic variables in Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study with individuals aged 18 years or older using data from the Brazilian National Health Survey was carried out in 2013. PA (total and domains) and TV viewing (≥3 hours) were measured by self-report. Stratifiers were location of residence, sex, age, wealth quintiles and regions of the country. RESULTS: This study included 60 202 individuals (49 245 from urban areas). In general, total PA was not different according to location of residence (urban 59.4%; rural 57.4%). Higher differences were found for leisure-time PA (urban 24.1%; rural 13.9%), work-based PA (urban 12.9%; rural 21.1%) and TV viewing of more than 3 hours (urban 30.1%; rural 21.4%). The differences between urban and rural areas were enhanced according to sex, age and wealth quintiles. CONCLUSION: The differences between urban and rural areas vary according to PA domains and population groups. To explore specific domains of PA in each location of residence may improve the understanding of the analyzed outcomes in different communities and consequently guide future interventions.

Maternal mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2019 Rio Grande birth cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare measures of maternal depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in a Brazilian birth cohort. METHODS: All hospital births occurring in the municipality of Rio Grande (southern Brazil) during 2019 were identified. Mothers were invited to complete a standardized questionnaire on sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. Between May and July 2020, we tried to contact all cohort mothers of singletons, living in urban areas, to answer a standardized web-based questionnaire. They completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) in both follow-ups, and the Impact of Event Scale (IES) in the online follow-up. RESULTS: We located 1,136 eligible mothers (n=2,051). Of those, 40.5% had moderate to severe stress due to the current pandemic, 29.3% had depression, and 25.9% had GAD. Mothers reporting loss of income during the pandemic (57.2%) had the highest proportions of mental health problems. Compared to baseline, the prevalence of depression increased 5.7 fold and that of anxiety increased 2.4-fold during the pandemic (both p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We found a high prevalence of personal distress due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and a clear rise in both maternal depression and anxiety.

Objectively measured physical activity according to the periods of the day in the Pelotas Cohort / Medida objetiva de atividade física de acordo com períodos do dia em uma coorte de Pelotas

This study aims to describe objectively measured physical activity (PA) in different periods of the day in young adults according to sex, socioeconomic position and during weekdays and weekends. This is a cross-sectional analysis carried out with the participants of the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort at 22 years. PA was assessed by triaxial accelerometer. Descriptive analyses were performed presenting the time spent on light PA (LPA) and bouted moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) in different periods of the day (morning - 6am to 11:59 am, afternoon ­ 12pm to 7:59 pm and night ­ 8pm to 11:59pm). The present study included 2,766 individuals (48.2% male and 51.8% female). LPA was higher among women, while bouted MVPA levels were higher among men. The median of PA was higher on weekdays compared to weekends for all intensities. The bouted MVPA medians in the morning and at night were zero minutes for all days and both sexes. The richest group presented a higher percentage of individuals with zero minutes. PA may vary according to different periods of the day and intensity. The absence of PA practice was markedly influenced by sex and socioeconomic position

Este estudo teve o objetivo de mensurar atividade física (AF) objetivamente em diferentes períodos do dia em adultos jovens de acordo com sexo, posição socioeconômica e dia de semana e final de semana. Esta é uma análise transversal conduzida com participantes da Coorte de Nascimentos de 1993 de Pelotas aos 22 anos. AF foi avaliada por um acelerômetro triaxial. Foram realizadas análises descritivas apresentando o tempo em AF leve (AFL) e moderada a vigorosa (AFMV ) em diferentes períodos do dia (manhã ­ 6h às 11:59h, tarde ­ 12h às 19:59h e noite ­ 20h às 0h). O presente estudo incluiu 2.766 individuos (48.2% homens e 51.8% mulheres). AFL foi maior entre as mulheres enquanto AFMV foi maior entre os homens. A mediana de AF foi maior nos dias de semana comparado aos dias de final de semana para qualquer intensidade. As medianas de AFMV pela manhã e noite foram zero minutos para todos os dias nos dois sexos. O grupo econômico mais alto apresentou maior percentual de individuos com zero minutos de AFMV. AF pode variar de acordo com diferentes períodos do dia e intensidades. A ausência de prática de AF foi marcadamente influenciada por sexo e posição socioeconômica

Validity assessment of a portable anthropometer to measure length in 24-month children from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the validity of a portable anthropometer against the gold standard among 2-year-old infants from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort. DESIGN: Birth cohort study. SETTING: A fixed Harpenden® infant anthropometer was considered as the gold standard for measuring infant length due to its greater precision and stability. The portable SANNY® (model ES2000) anthropometer was the instrument to be validated. The acceptable mean difference in length between the anthropometers was 0·5 cm. In order to compare length estimates, the interviewers carried out two length measures for each of the anthropometers (fixed and portable) and for each child. The mean of the two lengths was calculated for each anthropometer, and their difference was calculated. PARTICIPANTS: A subsample of 252 24-month-old members of the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study. RESULTS: Children's mean age was 23·5 months. According to Bland-Altman plot, there were no differences in overall lengths between the portable and the fixed anthropometers, or in lengths according to sex. There was a high overall concordance between the length estimates of the fixed and portable anthropometers (ρ = 0·94; 95 % CI 0·92, 0·95). CONCLUSIONS: The portable anthropometer proved to be accurate to measure the length of 24-month-old infants, being applicable to studies using the same standardised protocol used in the present study.

Calibration of raw accelerometer data to measure physical activity: A systematic review.

Most of calibration studies based on accelerometry were developed using count-based analyses. In contrast, calibration studies based on raw acceleration signals are relatively recent and their evidences are incipient. The aim of the current study was to systematically review the literature in order to summarize methodological characteristics and results from raw data calibration studies. The review was conducted up to May 2017 using four databases: PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science. Methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Landis and Koch's guidelines. Initially, 1669 titles were identified and, after assessing titles, abstracts and full-articles, 20 studies were included. All studies were conducted in high-income countries, most of them with relatively small samples and specific population groups. Physical activity protocols were different among studies and the indirect calorimetry was the criterion measure mostly used. High mean values of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy from the intensity thresholds of cut-point-based studies were observed (93.7%, 91.9% and 95.8%, respectively). The most frequent statistical approach applied was machine learning-based modelling, in which the mean coefficient of determination was 0.70 to predict physical activity energy expenditure. Regarding the recognition of physical activity types, the mean values of accuracy for sedentary, household and locomotive activities were 82.9%, 55.4% and 89.7%, respectively. In conclusion, considering the construct of physical activity that each approach assesses, linear regression, machine-learning and cut-point-based approaches presented promising validity parameters.

Is Brazil going to achieve the road traffic deaths target? An analysis about the sustainable development goals.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the temporal relationship between the road traffic mortality rate and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Brazil, and make an annual prediction of the evolution of both indicators until 2020, the end of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) monitoring period. METHODS: Brazilian road traffic mortality rate official data were described from 2000 to 2015, while the GDP per capita official data were described from 2000 to 2013. GDP per capita and traffic mortality rate predictions were performed until 2020 using fractional polynomial analysis. Correlations were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2015, there were over 446 000 road crashes fatal victims in Brazil. The road traffic mortality rate was positively related to the Brazilian GDP per capita, with a strong correlation (r=0.89; p<0.001) from 2000 to 2013 and a mild correlation (r=0.55; p<0.001) considering the whole period (2000-2020). The predictions show a reduction on the road traffic mortality rates in Brazil; however, if this same reduction pace continues, we estimate that the country will reach 12.4 road crash deaths per 100 000 inhabitants in 2020, a reduction of only 13.4% compared with 2015. CONCLUSION: If the same mortality reduction pace continues in Brazil, the country will not reach the proposed SDG, which is to reduce by half the number of deaths per 100 000 inhabitants. In addition, an intertwined conciliation between economical growth, sustainable development and public policies is needed in order to meet such an overwhelming goal.