Data quality and arbovirus infection associated factors in pregnant and non-pregnant women of childbearing age in Brazil: A surveillance database analysis

Abstract

The dengue surveillance system in Brazil has registered changes in the disease's morbidity and mortality profile over successive epidemics. Vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, have been particularly hard hit. This study assessed the quality of notifications of dengue cases among pregnant women and non-pregnant women of childbearing age in Brazil, in addition to discussing the factors associated with arbovirus infection in the group of pregnant women. We carried out a retrospective study of cases registered in the national arbovirus surveillance system between 2007 and 2017. The indicator for assessing quality was incompleteness. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between dengue during pregnancy and sociodemographic, epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory variables. The incompleteness of the data in the notification form for dengue cases in women of childbearing age and pregnant women indicates a significant loss of information. Dengue was shown to be positively associated with Social Determinants of Health in both groups, with more severe effects among pregnant women. The incompleteness of the data can limit the quality of information from the notification system and the national assessment of the situation of the disease in women of childbearing age and pregnant women.

Epidemiological profile of arboviruses in two different scenarios: dengue circulation vs. dengue, chikungunya and Zika co-circulation

“…Particularly in Brazil, in a retrospective study carried out with data from 2007 to 2017, Einlof et al [ 45 ] described that the age group of 20–29 years was the most frequent in women diagnosed with dengue, especially in pregnant women. Taken together, these data suggest higher vulnerability in this age group, probably related to behavioral and environmental factors.…”

“…This is an important issue and deserves further investigation, especially when considering the risk of congenital Zika syndrome and the fact that the age group of 20–39 years (childbearing age) is among the most diagnosed in our study. Despite this, some authors reported difficulties in carrying out a more in-depth analysis in this population due to the lack of data on pregnancy during the notification of arboviruses [ 45 ].…”

Visualização de dados de Vigilância das arboviroses urbanas transmitidas pelo Aedes aegypti

“…O objetivo do SINAN é coletar, transmitir e disseminar os dados gerados rotineiramente pela vigilância epidemiológica das três esferas de governo, por intermédio de uma rede informatizada, para apoiar o processo de investigação e dar subsídios à análise das informações das doenças de notificação compulsória (Brasil, 2006). No entanto, estudos apontam que o mesmo é subutilizado, impactando, por conseguinte sua função de gerar informações para o planejamento em saúde (Moraes & Duarte, 2009;Rocha et al, 2020;Einloft et al, 2021).…”