Maternal anthropometry: trends and inequalities in four population-based birth cohorts in Pelotas, Brazil, 1982–2015

Abstract

Background Pre-pregnancy nutritional status and weight gain during pregnancy have short- and long-term consequences for the health of women and children. This study was aimed at evaluating maternal height,- and overweight or obesity at the beginning of the pregnancy and gestational weight gain, according to socioeconomic status and maternal skin colour of mothers in Pelotas, a southern Brazilian city, in 1982, 1993, 2004 and 2015. Methods In 1982, 1993, 2004 and 2015, the maternity hospitals in Pelotas were visited daily, all deliveries were identified and mothers who lived in the urban area of the city were interviewed. Maternal weight at the beginning of the pregnancy was self-reported by the mother or obtained from the antenatal card. Maternal height was collected from the maternity records or measured by the research team. Overweight or obesity was defined by a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2. Gestational weight gain was evaluated according to the Institute of Medicine guidelines. Results In the four cohorts, we evaluated 19 931 women. From 1982 to 2015, the prevalence of overweight or obesity at the beginning of the pregnancy increased from 22.1% to 47.0% and height increased by an average of 5.2 cm, whereas gestational weight gain did not change. Socioeconomic status was positively associated with maternal height, and the difference between the poorest and the wealthiest decreased. Overweight or obesity was lower among those mothers in the extreme categories of family income. Conclusions Over the 33-year span, mothers were taller at the beginning of the pregnancy, but the prevalence of overweight or obesity more than doubled.

Infant nutrition and growth: trends and inequalities in four population-based birth cohorts in Pelotas, Brazil, 1982–2015

“…The reasons behind the decline in stunting in Brazil include improvements in socioeconomic determinants of health, including increased maternal education and poverty reduction, improved coverage with essential services including water supply and sanitation, and universal access to health care 25 . As shown in previous articles in the present Supplement, time trends in determinants of stunting in Pelotas were consistent with national trends 14 , 19 , 26 . In Pelotas as in Brazil as a whole, there were marked reductions in socioeconomic inequalities in stunting, which likely reflect an improvement in living conditions for Brazil’s poor families 11 …”

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality in obstetric patients with severe COVID‐19 in Brazil: a surveillance database analysis

“…Thus, when hypertension and COVID‐19 simultaneously occur, it is possible to conjecture that inflammatory response may play a role in worsening prognosis, especially during pregnancy. Another possible explanation may be a combination of the country’s high prevalence of overweight and obesity with metabolic syndrome, 33 considering the same inflammatory aspect of immune system response to coronavirus. Obesity was associated with antepartum severe maternal morbidity and may contribute to maternal deaths due its association with pre‐eclampsia 34,35 …”

Twin Births In The Pelotas (Brazil) 2004 And 2015 Birth Cohorts 

“…(32) During the same period, the prevalence of pregestational maternal obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) increased sharply, from 4.4% of mothers in 1982 to 4.9%, 9.0%, and 18.7% in 1993, 2004, and 2015, respectively. (33) In both cohorts, there was no statistical difference in the multiple pregnancy rate according to maternal age or family income. However, in 2015, multiple pregnancies were more frequent in mothers 35 years or older (2.3%) and in families with monthly incomes between 6.1 and 10.0 minimum wage (2.8%).…”