Reproductive Risk Factors Related to Socioeconomic Status in Pregnant Women in Southern Brazil

Abstract

To evaluate patterns of drug use during pregnancy and other potential reproductive risks in pregnant women, we applied a standard questionnaire to 412 pregnant women classified as low socioeconomic status (SES) or as middle/high SES, in two cities of South Brazil. 77% of the women used at least one medication during pregnancy. We observed significant differences, when comparing low SES and middle/high SES groups, for the following variables: teenage pregnancies (28.4 vs. 12.4%); self-medication (21.8 vs. 13.1%); smoking habits (21.5 vs. 5.1%); unplanned pregnancies (69.5 vs. 51.8%); unwanted pregnancies (31.3 vs. 10.9%), and abortion attempts (13.1 vs. 5.8%). The average number of drugs consumed, however, was not different between low SES and middle/high SES. We believe that better education and conditions for family planning are key points to improve this scenario.

Maternal drinking behavior and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in adolescents with criminal behavior in southern Brazil

“…Induced abortion is not legally allowed in Brazil but nonetheless it is quite common practice ( Faundes, 2010 ). Other risk factors present during pregnancy or delivery were concordant with literature data for Brazil ( Momino et al ., 2003 ).…”

From abortion-inducing medications to Zika Virus Syndrome: 27 years experience of the First Teratogen Information Service in Latin America

“…In our sample, most of the women were already pregnant when the call to SIAT occurred (Table 1), and in the majority of the cases, the exposure that motivated the call had already occurred. This is mainly due to the fact that not only in Brazil, but all over the world, almost half of pregnancies are not planned, with significant risk of unintentional exposures occurring during the first weeks of gestation (Momino et al , 2003; Han et al , 2005; Hohmann-Marriot, 2017). Medications constituted the major reason for the call in both periods, and this is the same for calls in all TISs around the world.…”