Internação hospitalar por transtornos mentais e comportamentais em adolescentes no Brasil, 2008-2017 / Hospitalization for mental and behavioral disorders in adolescents in Brazil, 2008-2017

Resumo Introdução Internações por transtornos mentais e comportamentais não são ocorrências raras em adolescentes. Estima-se que aproximadamente 30% dos adolescentes brasileiros sejam acometidos por transtornos mentais. Objetivo Analisar a evolução das internações por transtornos mentais e comportamentais em adolescentes brasileiros de 2008 a 2017. Método Estudo ecológico de séries temporais utilizando dados do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde e do IBGE. As variáveis utilizadas foram regiões de residência, sexo, faixa etária e grupos de diagnósticos. A tendência do coeficiente de internação foi analisada através da regressão de Prais-Winsten utilizando o Stata 14.0. Resultados Houve 152.465 internações no período; o coeficiente de internação hospitalar reduziu na região Nordeste de 27,75 a 23,16 por 100 mil habitantes (Coef = -0,0070; -1,6%), aumentou de 13,70 a 21,61 por 100 mil habitantes no Norte (Coef = 0,0192; 4,5%) e nas regiões Sul, Sudeste e Centro-oeste houve tendência estável. Verificou-se tendência crescente de internações entre as mulheres (Coef = 0,0136; 3,2%), e por transtornos do humor [afetivos] (0,0266; 6,33%) e outros transtornos mentais e comportamentais (0,0295; 7,03%). Conclusão Estudos epidemiológicos como este ajudam a fornecer informações úteis para o planejamento de serviços de prevenção e tratamento primário, secundário e terciário voltados à saúde mental, especialmente entre crianças e adolescentes.

Abstract Background Hospitalizations for mental and behavioral disorders are not rare occurrences in adolescents. It is estimated that approximately 30% of Brazilian adolescents are affected by mental disorders. Objective To analyze the evolution of hospitalizations for mental and behavioral disorders in Brazilian adolescents from 2008 to 2017. Method Ecological study of time series using data from the hospital information system collected of the Unified Health System (SUS) and IBGE was carried out. The variables used were regions of residence, gender, age group, and groups of diagnoses. The trend of the hospitalization coefficient was analyzed using the Prais-Winsten regression, by Stata 14.0. Results There were 152,465 hospitalizations in the period; the hospitalization coefficient decreased in the Northeast region from 27.75 to 23.16 per 100 thousand inhabitants (Coef. = -0.0070; -1.6%), increased from 13.70 to 21.61 per 100 thousand inhabitants in the North (Coef. = 0.0192; 4.5%) and in the South, Southeast and Midwest regions, had a stable trend. There was an increasing trend of hospitalizations among women (Coef. = 0.0136; 3.2%) and concerning affective mood disorders (0.0266; 6.33%), besides other mental and behavioral disorders (0.00295; 7.0 3%). Conclusion Epidemiological studies such as this service provide useful information for planning primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, and treatment services aimed at mental health, especially among children and adolescents.

Characteristics associated with drug resistant epilepsy in children up to 36 months old with Congenital Zika Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To verify characteristics associated with drug resistant epilepsy in children up to 36 months of age with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study with children aged up to 36 months diagnosed with CZS. Obstetric, demographic, phenotype and other clinical signs, cranial tomography, growth and motor development of the children were collected. RESULTS: Of a total of 109 children diagnosed with CZS, 100 (91.7%) had epilepsy and 68 (68%) with drug resistant seizures. The types of seizures associated with drug resistant epilepsy were focal seizures from the occipital lobe, generalized tonic and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. There was an association between drug resistant epilepsy and microcephaly at birth, severe microcephaly at birth, excess nuchal skin, ventriculomegaly, reduced brain parenchyma volume, and hypoplasia or malformation of the cerebellum. Difficulty sleeping, irritability, continuous crying, dysphagia and gross motor function were clinical signs associated with drug resistant epilepsy, as were the presence of ocular abnormalities, low head circumference in the first year of life and low weight in the first six months. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of drug resistant epilepsy in children up to 36 months with CZS was 62.4% and was associated with the severity of the child's neurological damage, with emphasis on the reduction of brain parenchyma volume and damage to the cerebellum.

[Maternal occupation and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding: results of a birth cohort in São Luís, in the State of Maranhão, Brazil]. / Ocupação materna e duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo: resultados de uma coorte de nascimento em São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil.

In investigations determining the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), the variable paid maternal work is mostly dichotomized into no and yes. This study analyzes possible associations between the characteristics of maternal occupation and shorter EBF duration. A cohort study was conducted in a systematic sample of births in the city of São Luís (State of Maranhão, Brazil), in 2010. The variables type of maternal occupation, numbers of days worked/week and hours worked/day, if they work while standing for most of the time, and if they lift heavy objects at work were collected with 5,166 mothers of live births. The final sample of this study had 3,268 observations. Survival analysis was used to evaluate associations between variables and EBF outcomes up to 4 months (EBF4) and EBF up to 6 months (EBF6). Not having paid work was the reference category. Adjusted Cox regressions showed that mothers with semi-specialized manual work (95% confidence interval, 95%CI: 1.02-1.58 for EBF4 and 95%CI: 1.11-1.56 for EBF6) and mothers who worked 8 or more hours daily (95%CI: 1.01-1.36 for AME4 and 95%CI: 1.11-1.41 for ESA6) more frequently discontinued EBF. Mothers with in-office occupations (95%CI: 1.07-1.46), who worked 4-5 days (95%CI: 1.01-1.36) or 6-7 days/week (95%CI: 1.09-1.40) and for 5-7 hours (95%CI: 1.03-1.43) also practiced less EBF6. Working (95%CI: 1.08-1.40) or not (95%CI: 1.03-1.34) while standing for most of the workday and lifting (95%CI: 1.07-1.56) or not (95%CI: 1.06-1.33) heavy objects at work decreased the duration of EBF6. Types of occupation and working time interfered more frequently in the duration of EBF6.

Nas investigações dos determinantes da duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo (AME), a variável trabalho materno remunerado é quase sempre dicotomizada em não e sim. Este estudo analisa possíveis associações entre características da ocupação materna e menor duração do AME. Foi realizado um estudo de coorte em uma amostra sistemática de nascimentos do Município de São Luís (Maranhão, Brasil) em 2010. As exposições tipo de ocupação materna, números de dias trabalhados/semana e de horas trabalhadas/dia, trabalha em pé a maior parte do tempo e levanta objetos pesados nesse trabalho foram coletadas com 5.166 mães de nascidos vivos. A amostra final desse estudo teve 3.268 observações. Foi utilizada análise de sobrevida para testar associações entre as exposições e os desfechos AME até 4 meses (AME4) e AME até 6 meses (AME6). Não ter trabalho remunerado foi a categoria de referência. Regressões ajustadas de Cox mostraram que mães com ocupações manuais semiespecializadas (intervalo de 95% de confiança, IC95%: 1,02-1,58 para AME4 e IC95%: 1,11-1,56 para AME6) e mães que trabalhavam 8 ou mais horas diárias (IC95%: 1,01-1,36 para AME4 e IC95%: 1,11-1,41 para AME6) mais frequentemente interromperam AME. Mães com ocupações em funções de escritório (IC95%: 1,07-1,46), que trabalhavam 4-5 dias (IC95%: 1,01-1,36) ou 6-7 dias/semana (IC95%: 1,09-1,40) e por 5-7 horas (IC95%: 1,03-1,43) também praticaram menos AME6. Trabalhar (IC95%: 1,08-1,40) ou não (IC95%: 1,03-1,34) em pé a maior parte do tempo e levantar (IC95%: 1,07-1,56) ou não (IC95%: 1,06-1,33) objetos pesados no trabalho diminuíram a duração de AME6. Tipos de ocupação e de jornada de trabalho interferiram mais frequentemente na duração de AME6.

En las investigaciones sobre los determinantes de la duración de la lactancia materna exclusiva (LME), la variable trabajo materno remunerado casi siempre se dicotomiza en no y sí. Este estudio analiza las posibles asociaciones entre las características de la ocupación materna y la menor duración de la LME. Se realizó un estudio de cohorte sobre una muestra sistemática de nacimientos en el Municipio de São Luís (Maranhão, Brasil), en el 2010. Se recopilaron las exposiciones tipo de ocupación materna, número de días trabajados/semana y horas trabajadas/día, trabajo de pie la mayor parte del tiempo y levantamiento de objetos pesados en el trabajo con 5.166 madres de nacidos vivos. La muestra final de este estudio contó con 3.268 observaciones. Se utilizó el análisis de sobrevida para probar las asociaciones entre las exposiciones y los desenlaces LME hasta 4 meses (LME4) y LME hasta 6 meses (LME6). No tener trabajo remunerado fue la categoría de referencia. Las regresiones ajustadas de Cox mostraron que las madres con ocupaciones manuales semiespecializadas (intervalo del 95% de confianza, IC95%: 1,02-1,58 para LME4 y IC95%: 1,11-1,56 para LME6) y las madres que trabajaban 8 horas o más al día (IC95%: 1,01-1,36 para LME4 y IC95%: 1,11-1,41 para LME6) interrumpieron con más frecuencia la LME. Las madres con ocupaciones en funciones de oficina (IC95%: 1,07-1,46), que trabajaban 4-5 días (IC95%: 1,01-1,36) o 6-7 días/semana (IC95%: 1,09-1,40) y durante 5-7 horas (IC95%: 1,03-1,43) también redujeron la LME6. Trabajar (IC95%: 1,08-1,40) o no (IC95%: 1,03-1,34) estar de pie la mayor parte del tiempo y levantar (IC95%: 1,07-1,56) o no (IC95%: 1,06-1,33) objetos pesados en el trabajo redujo la duración de la LME6. Los tipos de ocupación y la jornada laboral interfirieron con mayor frecuencia en la duración de la LME6.

Ocupação materna e duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo: resultados de uma coorte de nascimento em São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil / Maternal occupation and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding: results of a birth cohort in São Luís, in the State of Maranhão, Brazil / Ocupación materna y duración de la lactancia materna exclusiva: resultados de una cohorte de nacimiento en São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil

Nas investigações dos determinantes da duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo (AME), a variável trabalho materno remunerado é quase sempre dicotomizada em não e sim. Este estudo analisa possíveis associações entre características da ocupação materna e menor duração do AME. Foi realizado um estudo de coorte em uma amostra sistemática de nascimentos do Município de São Luís (Maranhão, Brasil) em 2010. As exposições tipo de ocupação materna, números de dias trabalhados/semana e de horas trabalhadas/dia, trabalha em pé a maior parte do tempo e levanta objetos pesados nesse trabalho foram coletadas com 5.166 mães de nascidos vivos. A amostra final desse estudo teve 3.268 observações. Foi utilizada análise de sobrevida para testar associações entre as exposições e os desfechos AME até 4 meses (AME4) e AME até 6 meses (AME6). Não ter trabalho remunerado foi a categoria de referência. Regressões ajustadas de Cox mostraram que mães com ocupações manuais semiespecializadas (intervalo de 95% de confiança, IC95%: 1,02-1,58 para AME4 e IC95%: 1,11-1,56 para AME6) e mães que trabalhavam 8 ou mais horas diárias (IC95%: 1,01-1,36 para AME4 e IC95%: 1,11-1,41 para AME6) mais frequentemente interromperam AME. Mães com ocupações em funções de escritório (IC95%: 1,07-1,46), que trabalhavam 4-5 dias (IC95%: 1,01-1,36) ou 6-7 dias/semana (IC95%: 1,09-1,40) e por 5-7 horas (IC95%: 1,03-1,43) também praticaram menos AME6. Trabalhar (IC95%: 1,08-1,40) ou não (IC95%: 1,03-1,34) em pé a maior parte do tempo e levantar (IC95%: 1,07-1,56) ou não (IC95%: 1,06-1,33) objetos pesados no trabalho diminuíram a duração de AME6. Tipos de ocupação e de jornada de trabalho interferiram mais frequentemente na duração de AME6.

In investigations determining the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), the variable paid maternal work is mostly dichotomized into no and yes. This study analyzes possible associations between the characteristics of maternal occupation and shorter EBF duration. A cohort study was conducted in a systematic sample of births in the city of São Luís (State of Maranhão, Brazil), in 2010. The variables type of maternal occupation, numbers of days worked/week and hours worked/day, if they work while standing for most of the time, and if they lift heavy objects at work were collected with 5,166 mothers of live births. The final sample of this study had 3,268 observations. Survival analysis was used to evaluate associations between variables and EBF outcomes up to 4 months (EBF4) and EBF up to 6 months (EBF6). Not having paid work was the reference category. Adjusted Cox regressions showed that mothers with semi-specialized manual work (95% confidence interval, 95%CI: 1.02-1.58 for EBF4 and 95%CI: 1.11-1.56 for EBF6) and mothers who worked 8 or more hours daily (95%CI: 1.01-1.36 for AME4 and 95%CI: 1.11-1.41 for ESA6) more frequently discontinued EBF. Mothers with in-office occupations (95%CI: 1.07-1.46), who worked 4-5 days (95%CI: 1.01-1.36) or 6-7 days/week (95%CI: 1.09-1.40) and for 5-7 hours (95%CI: 1.03-1.43) also practiced less EBF6. Working (95%CI: 1.08-1.40) or not (95%CI: 1.03-1.34) while standing for most of the workday and lifting (95%CI: 1.07-1.56) or not (95%CI: 1.06-1.33) heavy objects at work decreased the duration of EBF6. Types of occupation and working time interfered more frequently in the duration of EBF6.

En las investigaciones sobre los determinantes de la duración de la lactancia materna exclusiva (LME), la variable trabajo materno remunerado casi siempre se dicotomiza en no y sí. Este estudio analiza las posibles asociaciones entre las características de la ocupación materna y la menor duración de la LME. Se realizó un estudio de cohorte sobre una muestra sistemática de nacimientos en el Municipio de São Luís (Maranhão, Brasil), en el 2010. Se recopilaron las exposiciones tipo de ocupación materna, número de días trabajados/semana y horas trabajadas/día, trabajo de pie la mayor parte del tiempo y levantamiento de objetos pesados en el trabajo con 5.166 madres de nacidos vivos. La muestra final de este estudio contó con 3.268 observaciones. Se utilizó el análisis de sobrevida para probar las asociaciones entre las exposiciones y los desenlaces LME hasta 4 meses (LME4) y LME hasta 6 meses (LME6). No tener trabajo remunerado fue la categoría de referencia. Las regresiones ajustadas de Cox mostraron que las madres con ocupaciones manuales semiespecializadas (intervalo del 95% de confianza, IC95%: 1,02-1,58 para LME4 y IC95%: 1,11-1,56 para LME6) y las madres que trabajaban 8 horas o más al día (IC95%: 1,01-1,36 para LME4 y IC95%: 1,11-1,41 para LME6) interrumpieron con más frecuencia la LME. Las madres con ocupaciones en funciones de oficina (IC95%: 1,07-1,46), que trabajaban 4-5 días (IC95%: 1,01-1,36) o 6-7 días/semana (IC95%: 1,09-1,40) y durante 5-7 horas (IC95%: 1,03-1,43) también redujeron la LME6. Trabajar (IC95%: 1,08-1,40) o no (IC95%: 1,03-1,34) estar de pie la mayor parte del tiempo y levantar (IC95%: 1,07-1,56) o no (IC95%: 1,06-1,33) objetos pesados en el trabajo redujo la duración de la LME6. Los tipos de ocupación y la jornada laboral interfirieron con mayor frecuencia en la duración de la LME6.

Trend in infant mortality rate caused by sepsis in Brazil from 2009 to 2018.

Sepsis is the organ dysfunction resulting from an infection associated with an unregulated host inflammatory response, which generates high mortality rates in Brazil. The aim of this stydy was to analyze the trend of early, late and post-neonatal mortality rates due to sepsis in Brazilian regions, from 2009 to 2018. This is an ecological study of time series. The trend of infant mortality from sepsis was analyzed using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD10) according to the place of residence (North, Northeast, Southeast, South and Midwest). Death Certificate data were collected from the Mortality Information System database. The temporal trend was analyzed using the Prais-Winsten estimate, interpreted as increasing, decreasing or stable, through the dependent variable (logarithm of mortality rates) and interdependent variables (years of the historical series). The Stata 14.0 statistical software was used. There were 39,867 infant deaths due to sepsis (78.67% for unspecified bacterial sepsis of the neonate ). Most of the children were male, had mixed ethnicity (black and white) , were born preterm with low birth weight and most mothers were 20-34 years old. There were decreasing trends in mortality rates from 2009 to 2018: early neonatal, in the Southeast (-3.57%), North (-3.33%) and South (-2.91%); late neonatal, in the South (-4.12%), Southeast (-4.53%), North (-4.55%) and Midwest (-6.21%); and post-neonatal, in the Northeast (-1.84%), North (-3.62%), Southeast (-3.83%) and Midwest (-5.81%). The Northeast showed a stable trend in early and late neonatal mortality rates. It was concluded that most regions showed a decreasing trend in mortality rates from sepsis in all age components, despite regional differences.

Congenital Zika syndrome: Growth, clinical, and motor development outcomes up to 36 months of age and differences according to microcephaly at birth.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the developmental consequences of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) without microcephaly at birth. Most previously published clinical series were descriptive and they had small sample sizes. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cohort study to compare the growth, clinical, and motor development outcomes for 110 children with CZS born with and without microcephaly up to their third birthday. Ninety-three had their head circumference (HC) at birth abstracted and they did not have hypertensive hydrocephalus at birth, where 61 were born with microcephaly and 32 without. RESULTS: The HC z-scores decreased steeply from birth to six months of age, i.e., from -3.77 to -6.39 among those with microcephaly at birth and from -1.03 to -3.84 among those without. Thus, at 6 months of age, the mean HC z-scores for children born without microcephaly were nearly the same as those for children born with microcephaly. Children born without microcephaly were less likely to have brain damage, ophthalmic abnormalities, and drug-resistant epilepsy, but the differences in many conditions were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Children born without microcephaly were only slightly less likely to present severe neurologic impairment and to develop postnatal-onset microcephaly, and some of the original differences between the groups tended to dissipate with age.

Congenital syphilis in Brazil: distribution of cases notified from 2009 to 2016.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital syphilis is considered a severe public health problem because it accounts for approximately 40% of the perinatal mortality rates, 25% of stillbirths, and 14% of neonatal deaths, in addition to causing severe consequences for the fetus. This study aimed to describe the rates of congenital syphilis in children under one year of age in Brazilian capitals from 2009 to 2016. METHODS: Ecological time series study, using rates of congenital syphilis in children under one year of age and living in Brazilian capitals. The Prais-Winsten regression model was used to assess the trend. RESULTS: A total of 44,056 cases of congenital syphilis in children under one year of age were reported in Brazilian capitals between 2009 and 2016. The highest rate of congenital syphilis in children under one year of age occurred in 2016 in Porto Alegre (31.07/1,000 live births). The Northeastern capitals showed high rates, particularly the capital Recife (23.67/1,000 live births). CONCLUSIONS: Congenital syphilis represents a major challenge for public policies. The need for improvements in the quality of prenatal care is highlighted, as it is essential to reduce the alarming rates.

Congenital Zika syndrome: association between the gestational trimester of maternal infection, severity of brain computed tomography findings and microcephaly at birth.

This study analyzed possible associations between the trimester of maternal Zika virus infection (ZIKV) in pregnancy, severity of brain computed tomography (CT) findings and the presence of microcephaly at birth in children with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). It was an analytical study in a cohort of children with CZS. Symptoms of maternal infection were dichotomized into the 1st trimester of pregnancy and other trimesters. Head circumference (HC) at birth was used to calculate the z-score. Mild microcephaly was defined as HC between 2 and ≥3 standard deviations (SD) below the mean for each gestational age and sex, and severe microcephaly when HC <3 SD below average. Brain CT images were evaluated by two radiologists and classified, according to the severity, into mild, moderate and severe. Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to verify the associations between variables. In 108 children, maternal infection in the 1st trimester of pregnancy was associated with more severe brain CT abnormalities (p=0.038), greater severity of microcephaly at birth (p=0.013) and lower HC z-scores at birth (p=0.021). The severity of brain CT lesions was also associated with lower HC z-scores at birth (p<0.001). Maternal ZIKV infection during the first trimester of pregnancy proved to be an important risk factor for a more severe spectrum of CZS, as it is associated with more severe brain CT abnormalities and, consequently, with lower HC z-scores at birth.

Congenital syphilis in Brazil: distribution of cases notified from 2009 to 2016

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Congenital syphilis is considered a severe public health problem because it accounts for approximately 40% of the perinatal mortality rates, 25% of stillbirths, and 14% of neonatal deaths, in addition to causing severe consequences for the fetus. This study aimed to describe the rates of congenital syphilis in children under one year of age in Brazilian capitals from 2009 to 2016. METHODS: Ecological time series study, using rates of congenital syphilis in children under one year of age and living in Brazilian capitals. The Prais-Winsten regression model was used to assess the trend. RESULTS: A total of 44,056 cases of congenital syphilis in children under one year of age were reported in Brazilian capitals between 2009 and 2016. The highest rate of congenital syphilis in children under one year of age occurred in 2016 in Porto Alegre (31.07/1,000 live births). The Northeastern capitals showed high rates, particularly the capital Recife (23.67/1,000 live births). CONCLUSIONS: Congenital syphilis represents a major challenge for public policies. The need for improvements in the quality of prenatal care is highlighted, as it is essential to reduce the alarming rates.

Mortalidade por suicídio na população brasileira, 1996-2015: qual é a tendência predominante? / Mortality by suicide in the Brazilian population, 1996-2015: what's the predominant trend?

Resumo Introdução O suicídio é uma das três causas de morte mais frequentes no mundo e varia conforme o sexo e a idade. Objetivo Analisar a tendência da mortalidade por suicídio nas regiões brasileiras no período de 1996 a 2015 e sua associação com o sexo e a faixa etária. Método Estudo ecológico de série temporal, utilizando os óbitos por suicídio analisados por regiões no período de 1996 a 2015 contidos no Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade. Para avaliação da tendência da mortalidade por suicídio, foi considerado o modelo de regressão de Prais-Winsten. Para comparar os percentuais de mortalidade por sexo e faixa etária, foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado. Resultados Observou-se tendência crescente de óbitos por suicídio nas regiões Norte (1,73%, Coef = 0,007; p-valor < 0,001), Nordeste (2,30%, Coef = 0,010; p-valor = 0,006) e Sudeste (1,41%, Coef = 0,006; p-valor < 0,001) e decrescente no Sul (-0,57%, Coef = -0,002; p-valor = 0,001), além de predomínio de homens no percentual de óbitos (p < 0,001). Conclusão O suicídio é considerado importante problema de saúde pública, necessitando de ações para divulgação dos riscos e programas de prevenção.

Abstract Background Suicide is one of the three most common causes of death worldwide and varies according to sex and age. Objective to analyze the trend of suicide mortality in the Brazilian regions from 1996 to 2015, and its association with sex and age. Method Ecological study of a time series using the suicide deaths analyzed by regions from 1996 to 2015, contained in the Mortality Information System. We used Prais-Winsten regression model to evaluate the trend of suicide mortality; and chi-square to compare the percentages of mortality by sex and age. Results There was a growing trend of deaths by suicide in the North (1.73%, Coef = 0.007, p-value <0.001), Northeast (2.30%, Coef = 0.010, p-value = 0.006) and Southeast (1.41%, Coef = 0.006, p-value <0.001) and decreasing in the South (-0.57%, Coef = -0.002, p-value = 0.001). Prevalence of men in the percentage of deaths (p <0.001). Conclusion Suicide is considered an important public health problem, requiring actions to disseminate risk and prevention programs.

Características das crianças nascidas com malformações congênitas no município de São Luís, Maranhão, 2002-2011 / Characteristics of children born with congenital malformations in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, 2002-2011

Objetivo: descrever as características dos nascidos vivos com malformação congênita em São Luís-MA, Brasil, no período de 2002 a 2011. Métodos: estudo descritivo baseado nos dados do Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (Sinasc). Resultados: dos 180.298 nascidos vivos, 875 (0,49 por cento) apresentaram algum tipo de malformação, principalmente do aparelho osteomuscular (48,0 por cento); os nascidos vivos, em sua maioria, foram a termo (83,7 por cento), com peso adequado (76,4 por cento), do sexo masculino (54,9 por cento) e com escores de Apgar satisfatórios no 1o (71,3 por cento) e 5o minutos (88,9 por cento), nascidos de mães na faixa etária de 20 a 34 anos (71,6 por cento), solteiras (62,5 por cento), com 8 a 11 anos de estudo (58,7 por cento), de gravidez única (97,9 por cento) e por parto cesáreo (54,8 por cento). Conclusão: observou-se aumento na frequência de casos registrados no período estudado; entretanto, sugere-se a realização de novos estudos para que seja possível esclarecer se ocorreu melhoria do sistema de notificação ou aumento dos casos.

Objective: to describe the characteristics of children born with congenital malformations in São Luis-MA, Brazil, between 2002-2011. Methods: a descriptive study using data from the Live Birth Information System. Results: 875 (0.49 per cent) of the 180,298 live births in the period had some type of malformation, mostly in the musculoskeletal system. The main findings were: mothers in the 20-34 age group (71.6 per cent), single mothers (62.5 per cent), mothers with 8-11 years of education (58.7 per cent), only one pregnancy (97.9 per cent) and cesarean delivery (54.8 per cent). Newborns were mostly term (83.7 per cent), normal weight (76.4 per cent), male (54.9 per cent) and satisfactory Apgar scores at the 1st (71.3 per cent) and 5th minute (88.9 per cent). Conclusion: congenital malformations continue to be a public health problem. In this study it was observed that during the study period there was an increase in reported case frequency. However, we suggest further studies be conducted to clarify whether the notification system improved or there was an increase in cases.