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[Epidemiologic study of birth weight from birth certificates]
1Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universida de São Paulo, Brasil.
Revista De Saude Publica
|January 7, 1999
Summary
Low birth weight is linked to infant mortality. This study identified risk factors like female sex, preterm birth, and maternal age using Brazilian birth certificates, highlighting their public health importance.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Neonatal Health
Context:
- Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant predictor of neonatal and infant mortality.
- The World Health Organization identifies birth weight as a key factor in infant survival.
- Birth Certificates are a valuable data source for public health analysis.
Purpose:
- To identify risk factors associated with low birth weight using epidemiological and demographic variables.
- To promote the utilization and analysis of hospital-generated data from Birth Certificates.
- To inform public health strategies aimed at reducing infant mortality.
Summary:
- A study analyzed 14,784 single newborn infants in S. Paulo, Brazil.
- Significant associations were found between LBW and female sex, gestational age (<37 weeks), maternal age (adolescent and ≥35 years), and parity.
- The city with the highest infant mortality rate also had the highest proportion of LBW infants (10.4%).
Impact:
- Highlights the importance of birth weight as a public health indicator.
- Provides evidence for targeted interventions to reduce LBW and improve infant survival.
- Recommends the use of Birth Certificate data for epidemiological and public health research due to its validity and coverage.