Racial inequalities and perinatal health in the southeast region of Brazil



Document title: Racial inequalities and perinatal health in the southeast region of Brazil
Journal: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000351870
ISSN: 0100-879X
Authors: 1
1
1
2
2
Institutions: 1Universidade Federal do Maranhao, Departamento de Saude Publica, Sao Luis, Maranhao. Brasil
2Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo. Brasil
Year:
Season: Sep
Volumen: 40
Number: 9
Pages: 1187-1194
Country: Brasil
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Analítico, descriptivo
English abstract Few studies are available about racial inequalities in perinatal health in Brazil and little is known about whether the existing inequality is due to socioeconomic factors or to racial discrimination per se . Data regarding the Ribeirão Preto birth cohort, Brazil, whose mothers were interviewed from June 1, 1978 to May 31, 1979 were used to answer these questions. The perinatal factors were obtained from the birth questionnaire and the ethnic data were obtained from 2063 participants asked about self-reported skin color at early adulthood (23-25 years of age) in 2002/2004. Mothers of mulatto and black children had higher rates of low schooling ( £ 4 years, 27.2 and 38.0%) and lower family income ( £ 1 minimum wage, 28.6 and 30.4%). Mothers aged less than 20 years old predominated among mulattos (17.0%) and blacks (14.0%). Higher rates of low birth weight and smoking during pregnancy were observed among mulatto individuals (9.6 and 28.8%). Preterm birth rate was higher among mulattos (9.5%) and blacks (9.7%) than whites (5.5%). White individuals had higher rates of cesarean delivery (34.9%). Skin color remained as an independent risk factor for low birth weight (P < 0.001), preterm birth (P = 0.01), small for gestational age (P = 0.01), and lack of prenatal care (P = 0.02) after adjustment for family income and maternal schooling, suggesting that the racial inequalities regarding these indicators are explained by the socioeconomic disadvantage experienced by mulattos and blacks but are also influenced by other factors, possibly by racial discrimination and/or genetics
Disciplines: Medicina
Keyword: Pediatría,
Salud pública,
Estudios de cohorte,
Parto prematuro,
Peso bajo al nacer,
Cuidado prenatal,
Salud perinatal,
Discriminación racial
Keyword: Medicine,
Pediatrics,
Public health,
Cohort studies,
Preterm delivery,
Birth low weight,
Prenatal care,
Perinatal health,
Racial discrimination
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