Is parenthood associated with self-rated health among women in Brazil?

BACKGROUND: Previous studies conducted in Europe and North America addressing the relationship between self-rated health and parenthood offer inconsistent results, with effects ranging from nonsignificant to significant and in opposite directions. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between parenthood and self-rated health (SRH) among women in Brazil (a country with strong inequalities) considering the time interval from the last delivery in the analyses, as proposed in previous studies set in Sweden. METHODS: The study used data from cross-sectional National Health Surveys in Brazil conducted from 2013 to 2014 and 2019 to 2020 with selected groups of 20,046 and 25,100 women for whom complete data were available on the variables of interest. The primary outcome was self-rated health measured on a five-point scale. Partial proportional odds models were employed. RESULTS: Compared to women that were not a parent, primiparous women whose delivery was within less than one year had a lower likelihood of worse SRH (OR (95% CI): 0.58-0.84 in 2013, and 0.64-0.94 in 2019), whereas multiparous women whose last delivery was more than one year earlier had greater likelihood of worse SRH (OR (95% CI): 1.08-1.27 in 2013, and 1.21-1.39 in 2019). CONCLUSIONS: An association was found between parenthood and SRH among Brazilian women. Considering the epidemiological relevance of SRH, different aspects of parenthood concerning parity and time since the last delivery should be considered in further analyses.

Religion, Age, Education, Lifestyle, and Health: Structural Equation Modeling.

This study aimed to analyze the moderating effect of religion between sociodemographic variables, lifestyle, and self-referred physical and mental health. Cross-sectional study with non-randomized sample of 392 participants. The Eight Natural Remedies Questionnaire was used to assess lifestyle. Religion was found to be positive predictor between age, education and lifestyle, better physical and mental health. Being an Adventist positively influenced the lifestyle (r = 0.680; p < 0.05) and consequently physical (r = 0.222) and mental health (r = 0.220). Belonging to a religion that emphasizes a healthy lifestyle is a contributing factor toward better lifestyle, physical and mental health.

Comparação de índices de avaliação da assistência pré- natal em base de dados nacional: uma análise com modelagem de equações estruturais / Comparison of prenatal care adequacy indices using data from a brazilian national study an analysis with structural equation modeling

Introdução: A assistência pré-natal adequada é importante para redução da morbimortalidade materna e perinatal, identificando fatores que possam colocar a gestante e o feto frente a maior risco de resultados adversos. A avaliação da adequação da assistência pré-natal se faz por meio de diferentes medidas que envolvem o acompanhamento, acesso e qualidade da assistência. Objetivo: Comparar resultados de diferentes índices de inadequação da assistência pré-natal, como desfechos, em modelos de equações estruturais a partir de um modelo teórico de fatores de risco. Métodos: O estudo empregou dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS) 2013, que contou com 1.851 mães que fizeram o último parto entre 2011 e 2013, representando 3.818.936 mulheres, a partir de amostragem complexa. Foram utilizados modelos de equações estruturais para a parte de mensuração das variáveis latentes envolvidas no modelo teórico e modelagem de fatores de risco para a inadequação da assistência. Medidas de ajuste foram empregadas para avaliar os modelos. Resultados: Quatro índices foram considerados para estimar a variável de inadequação da assistência pré-natal. A Vulnerabilidade Socioeconômica esteve fortemente associada ao desfecho inadequação do pré-natal e outras covariáveis das dimensões psicossociais e biológicas. Efeitos de hipertensão foram identificados para alguns desfechos. A presença de doenças crônicas influenciou a autoavaliação de saúde, porém esse não apresentou efeito sobre o desfecho. Modelos com e sem peso amostral apresentaram resultados distintos. Conclusão: O aspecto socioeconômico deve ser considerado quando se avalia a inadequação da assistência pré-natal. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que diferentes caminhos causais podem estar associados a diversos aspectos da assistência

Introduction: The adequate prenatal care is important to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, identifying factors that may put the pregnant woman and the fetus at greater risk of adverse outcomes. The assessment of the adequacy of prenatal care is done through different measures that involve the monitoring, access and quality of care. Objective: Compare results of different indices of inadequacy of prenatal care, as outcomes, in structural equation models from a theoretical model for risk factors. Methods: The study used data from the Brazilian 2013 National Health Survey (PNS), with a sample of 1,851 mothers who had their last births between 2011 and 2013, representing 3,818,936 women, applying the complex sampling weight. Structural equation models were employed for the measurement of the latent variables involved in the theoretical model and for the modeling of risk factors for the inadequacy of the assistance. Fit indices were used to evaluate the models. Results: Four indices were considered to estimate the variable of inadequacy of prenatal care. Socioeconomic Vulnerability was strongly associated with the inadequate outcome of prenatal care and other covariates of the psychosocial and biological dimensions. Effects of hypertension were identified for some outcomes. The presence of chronic diseases influenced the health self-assessment, but had no effect on the outcome. Models with and without sample weight presented different results. Conclusion: The socioeconomic aspects should be considered when assessing the inadequacy of prenatal care. The results suggest that different causal pathways may be associated with different aspects of care