Showing papers by "Universidade Federal de Pelotas published in 1992"

The association between wasting and stunting: an international perspective.

Abstract: Wasting and stunting are widely used indices for describing the prevalence of malnutrition in childhood. Studies from Latin America, however, consistently show low prevalences of wasting in the presence of other indicators of poor health. A data base assembled by the World Health Organization, including 175 studies with information on wasting and stunting among 1-y-old children from four regions (Africa, Americas, Asia and Eastern Mediterranean), was used for examining the prevalences of the two indices and their associations. Whereas there was little variation in the median prevalences of stunting among the four regions, those of wasting showed a sevenfold differential. In Africa and Latin America, the correlations between the two prevalences were low; nevertheless, wasting was about three times higher in Africa, for any given level of stunting, than in Latin America. In Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean, there were strong positive correlations between stunting and wasting, but wasting was about twice as common in Asia for any given level of stunting. To interpret low prevalences of wasting as being indicative of a low intensity of malnutrition may be misleading; weight-for-height standards and cut-offs may have to be re-examined for use in different populations.

A randomized trial of psychosocial support during high-risk pregnancies

Abstract: Background. It is often suggested that psychological and social support and health education for women at high risk for delivering a low-birth-weight infant can improve the outcomes of pregnancy, but the evidence is inconclusive. We undertook this prospective trial to evaluate a program of home visits designed to provide psychosocial support during pregnancy. Methods. At four centers in Latin America, 2235 women at higher-than-average risk for delivering a low-birth-weight infant were recruited before the 20th week of pregnancy. The women were randomly assigned either to an intervention group (n = 1115) that received four to six home visits from a nurse or social worker in addition to routine prenatal care or to a control group (n = 1120) that received only routine prenatal care (with a mean of eight prenatal visits). The principal measures of outcome were low birth weight (<2500 g), preterm delivery (<37 weeks of gestation), and specified categories of maternal and neonatal morbidity. Results. T...

Comparison of the causes and consequences of prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation: a longitudinal study in southern Brazil.

Abstract: A cohort of 5914 liveborns (99% of the city births) was followed up to the age of 4 years in Pelotas, southern Brazil. Besides the perinatal evaluation, the cohort children were examined again at mean ages of 11, 23, and 47 months. During each visit the children were weighed and measured and information on morbidity was collected. Also, multiple sources of information were used for monitoring mortality throughout the study. Of the babies with known gestational age, 9.0% were classified as intrauterine growth-retarded and 6.3% as preterm. Excluding those of unknown gestational age, 62% of low birth weight babies were intrauterine growth-retarded and 36% were preterm. Intrauterine growth retardation was statistically associated with maternal height, prepregnancy weight, birth interval, and smoking, whereas preterm births were associated with maternal prepregnancy weight and maternal age. Preterm babies had a perinatal mortality rate 13 times higher than that of babies of appropriate birth weight and gestational age and 2 times higher than that of intrauterine growth-retarded babies. Infant mortality rates presented a similar pattern, with the differentials being more pronounced during the neonatal than in the postneonatal period. In the first 2 years of life intrauterine growth-retarded children were at almost twice the risk of being hospitalized for diarrhea compared with appropriate birth weight, term children, while preterm children experienced only a slightly greater risk. For pneumonia, however, both groups of children were hospitalized significantly more than appropriate birth weight, term children. In terms of growth, despite their earlier disadvantage, preterm children gradually caught up with their appropriate birth weight, term counterparts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Early Childhood Mortality in a Brazilian Cohort: The Roles of Birthweight and Socioeconomic Status

Abstract: The deaths of children aged 1-4 years were studied in a cohort of 5914 Brazilian liveborns. A total of 29 early childhood deaths were recorded (cumulative mortality risk of approximately 6 per 1000), 17 of which (59%) were due to infectious diseases. The death rate was highest in the second year. Deaths were highly concentrated in children from low income (< US $50/month) families, where the cumulative risk of early childhood death was about 10 per 1000; on the other hand, there were no deaths among the 616 children from families with a monthly income of US $300 or more. Birthweight was also associated with mortality: the cumulative risk of children weighing less than 2000 g at birth was 21 per 1000, compared to 4 per 1000 among those with birthweights of 3500 g or more. Simultaneous adjustment for income and birthweight did not substantially change these differentials. These findings confirm the strong association between early childhood mortality and socioeconomic conditions, but also make evident the long-term effects of low birthweight.

Breast-feeding, nutritional status, and other prognostic factors for dehydration among young children with diarrhoea in Brazil.

Abstract: During the primary diarrhea season (December 1987-April 1988) in metropolitan Porto Alegre in southern Brazil researchers compared 192 children aged less than 2 years who were admitted to a hospital with moderate or severe dehydration with 192 neighborhood- and age-matched controls who had a diarrhea episode without dehydration during the seven days before the interview. They aimed to identify factors predicting life-threatening dehydration. When the researchers controlled for age and other confounding variables the following factors were significantly related to an increased risk of dehydration: no father in the household low paternal education level young age maternal age 25-29 years or less than 20 years mixed race mother high birth order short birth interval low birth weight stunting underweight and wasting non-breast milk children aged less than 5 in the household family size of 4-5 no prenatal care less than three doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus or poliomyelitis vaccine previous admission to a hospital use of medicines during the two weeks before the diarrhea episode and living in an unsanitary household. The strongest factors associated with an increased risk of dehydration (p < 0.001) included young age low birth weight and malnutrition short birth interval and non-breast milk. These factors were not as effective at predicting an increased risk of dehydration as early signs and symptoms. Specifically their sensitivities were lower than those of early signs and symptoms. Notwithstanding these findings support current efforts towards promotion of breast feeding prevention and treatment of malnutrition and birth spacing since they contribute to the prevention of diarrhea-related dehydration.

Birth spacing and child health in urban brazilian children

Abstract: The associations between birth interval and a range of child health outcomes were examined in a population-based cohort of approximately 3500 urban Brazilian children. The effects of several socioeconomic and maternal confounding factors were controlled for in the analyses. Children born after shorter birth intervals (less than 18 and 18 through 23 months) were disadvantaged with respect to most of the health outcomes when compared with children born after intermediate birth intervals (24 through 35, 36 through 47, and 48 through 71 months). Effects were particularly marked for birth weight, postneonatal mortality, and anthropometric status at mean age 19 months. Children born after a long birth interval (greater than 71 months) also showed some disadvantage for birth weight, perinatal mortality, and infant mortality. However, this group experienced lower risks of hospitalizations during the first 19 months of life and better anthropometric status at mean age 19 months. This study provides data that are scarce from such settings and contributes to the quantification of associations between birth spacing and child health. This information is important in the planning of appropriate intervention strategies.

Fatores prognósticos de letalidade hospitalar por diarréia ou pneumonia em menores de um ano de idade: estudo de caso e controle

Abstract: Estudou-se a letalidade hospitalar devido a diarreia ou pneumonia em menores de um ano de idade na Regiao Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro cujo obito ocorreu entre abril/86 e maio/87. Foram investigados possiveis fatores prognosticos de letalidade hospitalar em relacao a condicoes socioeconomicas, biologicas e amamentacao aos 30 dias de vida. Foi utilizada metodologia de caso-controle, sendo casos as criancas internadas por diarreia ou por pneumonia que morreram, e controles aquelas que sobreviveram. Referencias sao feitas aos fenomenos de causalidade reversa e "overmatching" como possiveis vieses neste tipo de estudo. Razao de produtos cruzados (RPC) foi utilizada para estimar os riscos relativos, atraves de regressao logistica nao condicional. Os principais fatores prognosticos encontrados foram prematuridade, baixo peso ao nascer, mau estado geral e deficit peso/idade na hospitalizacao. Nas criancas com pneumonia a duracao do aleitamento materno esteve associado com a letalidade (RPC=2,0). As condicoes biologicas evidenciaram-se como os principais fatores prognosticos de letalidade hospitalar por diarreia ou pneumonia.

Breast feeding duration in consecutive offspring: a prospective study from southern Brazil.

Abstract: The association between breast feeding duration in two consecutive pregnancies was studied in a prospective study in southern Brazil. In a population-based sample of 5960 women giving birth in 1982, 1386 delivered a second child within 4 years. The data were analyzed using life table techniques. The duration of breast feeding of the second child increased directly according to the duration the previous child had been breast fed. In particular, when the previous child had been breast fed for 6 months or more, the subsequent child was clearly more likely to be breast fed. However, when the previous child had been breast fed for under 6 months, the differences among subsequent children disappeared after 3-6 months. These differences were still present after stratification by family income, maternal education and parity. Mothers with a previous unsuccessful or problematic breast feeding experience should receive special priority in promotion campaigns.

Necessidades térmicas e estimativa do número de gerações de Grapholita molesta (busck, 1916)(lep.: olethreutidae) em Pelotas, RS

Abstract: Estudou-se o ciclo evolutivo da mariposa oriental Grapholita molesta (Busck, 1916), em dieta artificial, em temperaturas constantes (20, 23, 26 e 30°C), umidade relativa de 75 + 10% e fotofase de quatorze horas, com o objetivo de determinar as necessidades termicas das diferentes fases de desenvolvimento, e estimar o numero de geracoes anuais e durante o ciclo vegetativo do pessegueiro na localidade de Pelotas, RS. A determinacao da temperatura-base inferior e o valor da constante termica em graus-dia (GB) foram feitos utilizando-se o metodo da hiperbole. As temperaturas-bases inferiores foram de 6,47°C (ovo), 9,04°C (lagarta), 50,16°GD (pre-pupa), 6,61°C (pupa) e 8,99°C (ciclo evolutivo). As constantes termicas foram de 64,79 GD (ovo), 223,63 GD (lagarta), 50,16 GD (pre-pupa), 155,46 GD (pupa) a 482,00 GD (ciclo evolutivo). Atraves da temperatura-base do ciclo evolutivo estimou-se que nessa localidade podem desenvolver-se de seis a sete geracoes anuais de G. molesta , e de quatro a cinco, sobre o ciclo vegetativo do pessegueiro.

[Prognostic factors of hospital mortality from diarrhea or pneumonia in infants younger than 1 year old. A case-control study].

Abstract: Diarrhea and pneumonia are common diseases in children aged under one year, for which there are simple therapeutic measures. However, infant mortality due to these diseases is still very high, varying markedly according to socio-economic status. The characteristics of children who died (cases) and of those who were hospitalized with diarrhea or pneumonia, but survived (controls), were studied. The following groups of variables were studied: socio-economic, environmental and biological conditions, nutritional status and breast-feeding. Information on cases and controls was collected from hospital records and through home interviews. Important losses occurred in the latter: 40% of cases and 50% of controls were not interviewed. There were no significant differences between cases who were included and those who were not, in terms of age, sex or place of residence. To estimate relative risks of prognostic factors unconditional Logistic Regression was used to calculate the odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. Prematurity, low birth weight, weight/age deficit, presence of edema and poor general status at hospital admission were prognostic factors for hospital case-fatality. In relation to the anthropometric variables, it was not possible to conclude for certain whether the increased case-fatality was linearly or non-linearly (threshold) associated with nutritional deficit. The duration of breast-feeding was only associated with case-fatality for pneumonia. Socio-economic factors were not important for the prognosis of children admitted to hospital with diarrhea or pneumonia. Some of the expected risk factor associations were not detected, maybe due to the small sample size (resulting from the high losses) which was insufficient to show small differences. In this study the biological conditions of children with diarrhea or pneumonia appeared to be the important prognostic factors for hospital case-fatality.

Determinantes do hábito de fumar na cidade de pelotas, Brasil

Abstract: Although the harmful effects of smoking on health are well documented, this habit continues to be highly prevalent in Latin America. The objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency of this habit and its possible determinants in the adult population of the city of Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, using a simplified methodology. With the use of a cross-sectional design, a probabilistic sample of 1 401 adults was studied; the no-response rate was 11%

Curvas de secagem de sementes de milho utilizando o método intermitente

Abstract: O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar as curvas de secagem de sementes de milho, para diferentes temperaturas do ar, durante a secagem intermitente. Foram utilizados tres lotes de sementes de milho do hibrido duplo AG-162 e um secador marca D'Andrea, modelo D-200. As temperaturas do ar de secagem empregadas foram de 70, 80 e 90°C. As seguintes determinacoes foram realizadas: teor de agua das sementes, temperatura do ar de secagem, temperaturas da massa de sementes na câmara de secagem e na saida do secador, umidade relativa do ar e temperatura do ar ambiente. Considerando temperaturas do ar de secagem de 70, 80 e 90°C e reducoes do teor de agua de 16,5% para 13,0%, os resultados permitem as seguintes conclusoes: a) as curvas de secagem de sementes de milho, utilizando o metodo intermitente, podem ser representadas por funcoes lineares, b) o aumento da velocidade de secagem e a reducao do tempo total de exposicao das sementes ao ar aquecido podem ser obtidos pela elevacao da temperatura do ar de secagem.

Ciência auto-sustentada: o caso da Esquistossomose

Abstract: O autor reve criticamente os principais pontos das estrategias de controle da esquistossomose adotadas no Brasil nas ultimas decadas, discutindo o programa PECE e questoes referentes a quimioterapia, saneamento e vacinas. O autor tambem discute o papel das politicas publicas em geral e, em particular, das politicas cientificas na manutencao da endemia no pais.

Some personal views on the control of schistosomiasis mansoni.

Abstract: Our views are based, among other, on a recent study of a district of Uniao dos Palmares (Alagoas). Although being a very compact community (32 city blocks holding two thousand families), transmission is very uneven, the geometric mean egg counts in the various blocks ranging between extremes of 96 and 1920. (Results do not correlate with the availability of domestic water supply). We thus are led to conclude that: (a) transmission is primarily peridomestic, resulting from pollution of open ditches and other collections of water; (b) control of transmission can be done on a selective basis, requiring quite modest investments. Given the inefficacy of population-based chemotherapy, when used alone, the author insists that this alternative cannot any longer be overlooked. He also regrets the emphasis placed upon vaccine development; allegations that this would, at any rate, prevent severe morbidity can be dismissed, since-whatever the cause-morbidity due to schistosomiasis has been rapidly declining in Northeast Brazil.

Densidade de semeadura e produtividade do porongo

Abstract: O trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a melhor densidade de semeadura para a cultura do porongo Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standi. Foi realizado um experimento na Universidade Federal de Santa Maria -RS, em 1987-88, com densidades de 2.222; 2.500; 2.666; 3.333 e 4.444 covas/ha, sendo avaliada a producao de frutos industrializaveis (numero de frutos/ha e numero de frutos/cova). Em outro experimento, instalado em Restinga Seca-RS, em 1988-89, usou-se densidades de 1.111, 2.222, 3.333, 4.444, 5.555 e 6.666 covas/ha, sendo avaliadas a producao de frutos industrializaveis, numero de nos na ramificacao primaria (nos/planta), espessura do casco e volume externo da cuia O delineamento experimental foi blocos ao acaso com quatro repeticoes e duas plantas por cova, nos dois experimentos. Os resultados de produtividade nao mostraram relacao com as diferentes densidades estudada?, mas os melhores resultados foram obtidos com densidades que variaram de 3.333 a 5.555 covas por hectare. O numero de frutos/cova, nos/planta e a espessura do casco diminuiram a medida que aumentou a densidade de semeadura Em densidades menores a produtividade foi compensada pelo aumento do numero de frutos por cova O aumento da densidade de semeadura diminuiu o volume externo da cuia.

Método de obtenção de estimativas preliminares de parâmetros de modelos não-lineares de crescimento

Abstract: E apresentado um metodo geral de obtencao de estimativas preliminares (valores iniciais) dos parâmetros de modelos de crescimento nao-lineares usuais, tais como: Brody, raiz cubica de Bertalanffy, Gompertz e von Bertalanffy. A utilizacao do metodo e ilustrada com dados de desenvolvimento ponderal de bovinos da raca Ibage e de bubaliilos da raca Murrah.

Genética da insensibilidade ao ácido giberélico em genótipos de trigo com diferentes estaturas

Abstract: Estudou-se a heranca do carater insensibilidade ao acido giberelico em trigo ( Triticum aestivum L.), pela analise genetica de 21 cruzamentos envolvendo sete genotipos de diferentes estaturas, em todas as combinacoes possiveis. A analise da resposta ao acido giberelico das populacoes P l , P 2 , F l , F 2 , F 3 , RC 1 F 1 e RC 2 F 1 , foi realizada em casa de vegetacao, sendo utilizados 100 ppm de AG 3 , e a diferenca visual entre a altura da segunda e a primeira folha das plantas de trigo como indicacao da resposta. A analise genetica permitiu identificar um gene para a insensibilidade com dominância completa nos genotipos de baixa estatura, quando comparados com os genotipos de porte alto. Entretanto, foram identificados dois genes diferentes para a insensibilidade ao acido giberelico entre os genotipos de reduzida estatura, sendo um presente nos genotipos BTU e ALD e o outro nos genotipos JUR e ANA.

Prognostic factors for hospital case-fatality due to diarrhea or pneumonia: a case-control study

Abstract: POST, C.L.A. et al. Fatores prognósticos de letalidade hospitalar por diarréia ou pneumonia em menores de um ano de idade. Estudo de caso e controle. Rev. Saúde públ.,S.Paulo, 26: 36978, 1992. Estudou-se a letalidade hospitalar devido à diarréia ou pneumonia em menores de um ano de idade na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro cujo óbito ocorreu entre abril/86 e maio/87. Foram investigados possíveis fatores prognósticos de letalidade hospitalar em relação a condições socioeconômicas, biológicas e amamentação aos 30 dias de vida. Foi utilizada metodologia de caso-controle, sendo casos as crianças internadas por diarréia ou por pneumonia que morreram, e controles aquelas que sobreviveram. Referências são feitas aos fenômenos de causalidade reversa e \"overmatching\" como possíveis viéses neste tipo de estudo. Razão de produtos cruzados (RPC) foi utilizada para estimar os riscos relativos, através de regressão logística não condicional. Os principais fatores prognósticos encontrados foram prematuridade, baixo peso ao nascer, mau estado geral e déficit peso/idade na hospitalização. Nas crianças com pneumonia a duração do aleitamento materno esteve associado com a letalidade (RPC=2,0). As condições biológicas evidenciaram-se como os principais fatores prognósticos de letalidade hospitalar por diarréia ou pneumonia.

[Determinants of the smoking habit in the city of Pelotas, Brazil].

Abstract: Although the harmful effects of smoking on health are well documented, this habit continues to be highly prevalent in Latin America. The objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency of this habit and its possible determinants in the adult population of the city of Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, using a simplified methodology. With the use of a cross-sectional design, a probabilistic sample of 1,401 adults was studied; the no-response rate was 11%. Of those interviewed, 54% had never smoked, 14% were former smokers, and 33% were smokers at the time of the study; 16% smoked 20 or more cigarettes daily. Smoking was more frequent in men (44%) than in women (23%). In relation to educational level, the highest prevalence of smoking was among individuals with five to eight years of schooling (39.7%). The study showed that it is possible with a limited investment of time and resources, to evaluate the frequency of smoking in a representative sample of a medium-sized city, yielding data that will be highly useful for preventive campaigns.

A hidatidose humana no Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil): estimativa de sua importância para a saúde pública do país

Abstract: By means of data collected through personal visits to hospitals and clinics in the 24 counties of Rio Grande do Sul held to be endemic for Echinococcus granulosus an assessment of the importance of this disease is attempted. (Barring new developments, these data reflect the situation in the country as a whole). The surgical incidence for 1990 was found to be 5.5 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, far less than the rates for the neighboring countries. As concerns prevalence, in the absence of adequate population surveys the authors were forced to rely upon radiologic and echographic evidence available at various clinics throughout the area. The provisional prevalence rate thus adopted is 0.8 per thousand for lung cysts and 5.5 per thousand for abdominal cysts. According to the testimony of a group of local senior surgeons it appears that human hydatidosis is declining in Brazil. Such a conclusion gains further credibility on examination of the age distribution in the recent case series, as well as current investigations in Veterinary Medicine.

Método de obtenção de estimativas preliminares de parâmetros de modelos de crescimento sazonais

Abstract: E apresentado um metodo de obtencao de estimativas preliminares (valores iniciais) dos parâmetros em modelos de crescimento sazonais nao-lineares. O metodo e aplicado ao modelo raiz cubica de Bertalanffy com componente sazonal. Sao utilizados para a ilustracao do metodo dados de desenvolvimento ponderal de bovinos da raca Ibage e de bubalinos da raca Murrah.

Influência de galhas Burrknot no crescimento inicial de macieiras

Abstract: Galhas aereas burrknot , presentes em alguns porta-enxertos de macieira, causam obstrucoes em seu sistema vascular, prejudicando em geral, o crescimento e a producao das plantas. Com o objetivo de avaliar, preliminarmente, os prejuizos desses tumores, foi conduzido experimento abrangendo o periodo de junho de 1988 a julho de 1990, na Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Para tanto foi plantado um pomar com 84 macieiras das cultivares Fuji e Gala, enxertadas em 'MM-106': foram estabelecidos os seguintes tratamentos: a) mudas com galhas; b) mudas com eliminacao completa das galhas; c) mudas normais sem galhas. Na avaliacao dos resultados considerou-se o crescimento relativo das plantas, representado pelo diâmetro do tronco em duas diferentes alturas e quatro epocas distintas. Os resultados evidenciaram que a presenca de elevado numero de galhas no porta-enxerto altera o crescimento inicial da macieira, e que as mudas sem galhas tiveram maior desenvolvimento vegetativo. A extirpacao das galhas, por sua vez provocou sensivel estresse na planta, retardando seu crescimento.