Hospitalizations during infancy in three population-based studies in Southern Brazil: trends and differentials

Abstract

Three cohort studies of children born in the urban area of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, were carried out in 1982, 1993

Características e fatores associados à hospitalização nos primeiros anos de vida: coorte de nascimentos de Pelotas de 2004, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

“…In this study, low birth weight, gestational age < 37 weeks, and 5-minute Apgar score < 7 were associated with hospitalization and number of hospitalizations in the first and/or second years of life. These findings are consistent with those of previous studies 12,16,18 . Children with low birth weight are more vulnerable to environmental and social factors and show greater risk of morbidity and mortality in early childhood 12,18 .…”

“…These findings are consistent with those of previous studies 12,16,18 . Children with low birth weight are more vulnerable to environmental and social factors and show greater risk of morbidity and mortality in early childhood 12,18 . Selling et al 29 assessed the long-term effects of preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction and found greater risk of hospitalization in adolescence and adulthood among those born small for gestational age, preterm, and those born both preterm and small for gestational age 29 .…”

“…In keeping with previous studies in Pelotas 12,16 with a similar methodology to that used in this study, hospitalization in childhood, especially in the first year of life, has remained high and stable for at least three decades, at around 20%, thus corroborating the current study's findings.…”

“…Various perinatal health conditions are associated with hospitalization in early childhood 12,16,18 . In this study, low birth weight, gestational age < 37 weeks, and 5-minute Apgar score < 7 were associated with hospitalization and number of hospitalizations in the first and/or second years of life.…”

“…In the South of Brazil, Matijasevich et al 12 evaluated hospitalizations during childhood in three longitudinal population-based studies. All-cause hospitalization at least once in the first year of life remained constant from 1982 to 2004 (19.6% in 1982; 18.1% in 1993; and 19.2% in 2004; p = 0.7).…”