Profile of three Brazilian birth cohort studies in Ribeirão Preto, SP and São Luís, MA

Abstract

We describe three birth cohort studies, respectively carried out in 1978/79 and 1994 in Ribeirão Preto, a city located in the most developed region of Brazil, and in 1997/98 in São Luís, a city located in a less developed region. The objective of the present report was to describe the methods used in these three studies, presenting their history, methodological design, objectives, developments, and difficulties faced along 28 years of research. The first Ribeirão Preto study, initially perinatal, later encompassed questions regarding the repercussions of intrauterine development on future growth and chronic adult diseases. The subjects were evaluated at birth (N = 6827), at school age (N = 2861), at the time of recruitment for military service (N = 2048), and at 23/25 years of age (N = 2063). The study of the second cohort, which started in 1994 (N = 2846), permitted comparison of aspects of perinatal health between the two groups in the same region, such as birth weight, mortality and health care use. In 1997/98, a new birth cohort study was started in São Luís (N = 2443), capital of the State of Maranhão. The 1994 Ribeirão Preto cohort and the São Luís cohort are in the second phase of joint follow-up. These studies permit comparative temporal analyses in the same place (Ribeirão Preto 1978/79 and and comparisons of two contrasting populations regarding cultural, economic and sociodemographic conditions (Ribeirão Preto and São Luís).

Inadequate utilization of prenatal care in two Brazilian birth cohorts

“…The samples were representative of the births that occurred during the study periods in the two cities and comprised only hospital births, which represented 98% of all births in Ribeirão Preto and 94% of all births in São Luís. Details regarding the methodology of the two studies are available in previous publications (10)(11)(12).…”

Comportamento de Escolares Estratificados pelo Peso ao Nascer e Idade Gestacional

“…A mortalidade dos bebês de risco diminuiu, porém a morbidade dessas crianças aumentou, o que põe em foco a necessidade de estudos que visem compreender o desenvolvimento dessas crianças mais vulneráveis (Ferraz & Neves, 2011). No Brasil são escassos os estudos que avaliam os efeitos dos riscos biológicos e das adversidades a eles associadas ao longo do desenvolvimento dessas crianças, especialmente em estudos de coortes (Cardoso et al, 2007;Linhares, Bordin, & Carvalho, 2004).…”

“…Desse modo, pretendeu-se contribuir com dados sobre crianças brasileiras, visando identificar as peculiaridades desses grupos quanto às dificuldades comportamentais, o que poderá instrumentar programas de prevenção e intervenção junto a essa população. (Cardoso et al, 2007;Silva et al, 2011). O estudo em questão é parte da segunda etapa, quando as crianças, aos 10/11 anos, foram avaliadas quanto aos aspectos comportamentais e psicológicos.…”

Accuracy of spirometry for detection of asthma: a cross-sectional study

“…Some of these analyses have already been published. [7][8][9][10] The tests and measurements were carried out in a healthcare setting with easy access to medical facilities. The examinations were performed at the university hospital in the city of Ribeirão Preto, in the northwestern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.…”