Em virtude da importância dos recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso (RNMBP) na constituição da morbidade e mortalidade infantil realizou-se estudo para identificar os fatores de risco associados ao seu nascimento e avaliar os cuidados recebidos durante a internação e os índices de mortalidade. Método. Estudo de caso-controle, abrangendo 200 recém-nascidos(RN) com peso entre 500 e 1499g(casos) e 400 RN com peso entre 3000 e 3999g (controles), no período de março de 1998 a dezembro de 2004. Foram estudadas variáveis maternas sócio-econômicas e educacionais e variáveis da gestação e do parto. Foi utilizada a análise univariada e multivariada, adotando-se um nível de significância de 5 por cento . Resultados. A percentagem de mortalidade dos RNMBP foi de 32,5 por cento , sendo o limite de viabilidade de 600g de peso e 26 semanas de idade gestacional. As principais causas básicas de óbito foram a hipertensão materna (35,3 por cento ), as infecções maternas(18,5 por cento ) e a prematuridade (18,5 por cento ) e a principal causa imediata de óbito foi a infecção(52,3 por cento ). As variáveis que estiveram relacionadas com o nascimento de RNMBP foram a idade materna igual ou acima de 35 anos, a ausência de pré-natal, as doenças na gestação, a hipertensão materna, a internação durante a gestação e a história de um filho anterior de baixo peso ao nascer. Conclusão. Muitos nascimentos de RNMBP ocorreram por causas evitáveis relacionadas com a freqüência e qualidade do pré-natal / Objective. Due to the importance of very low birth weight (VLBW) in the make up of infant morbidity and mortality, a study was performed to identify risk factors associated with their birth, and to evaluate care received while in hospital and mortality rates. Method. A case-control study, covering 200 newborns (NB) weighing between 500 and 1499g (cases) and 400 NB weighing between 3000 to 3999g (controls) during the period from March 1998 to December 2004. Maternal socioeconomic and educational variables were studied besides variables on pregnancy and delivery. Simple and multiple analysis was used, adopting a 5 per cent level of significance. Results. The mortality percentage of VLBW was 32.5 per cent , and the limit of viability was a weight of 600g and 26 weeks of gestational age. The main basic causes of death were maternal hypertension (35.3 per cent ), maternal infections (18.5 per cent ) and prematurity (18.5 per cent ), and the main immediate cause of death was infection (52.3 per cent ). The variables that were related to the birth of VLBW were maternal age equal to or above 35 years, lack of prenatal examination, diseases in pregnancy, maternal hypertension, hospitalization during pregnancy, and the history of a previous low birth weight child. Conclusion. Many VLBW births occurred due to unavoidable reasons related to the frequency and quality of pre-natal care

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T18:16:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Michelle.pdf: 1395599 bytes, checksum: cac6fbdd72eabe7033af354481125571 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-06-20 / INTRODUCTION. Health professionals are especially concerned with the care of low birth weight children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, birth weight below 2500 grams is considered as low. Low birth weight has been found to place the child s future emotional, intellectual, and learning development at risk. Some studies have shown that, on the average, during the preschool phase, premature and low birth weight children evince lower cognitive performance than their normal weight peers. OBJECTIVES. Ascertain the epidemiological and neurological profile of premature, low birth weight children evaluated in a hospital school in Sao Luis, Maranhão. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach to birth cohort in 2001 of newborns admitted to the Hospital Unit of the Maternal and Child HUUFMA. Researchers recorded 45 records, only 27 of these children participated in the study was conducted using survey data from medical records and was applied to Scale WISC III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Based on findings, although the children sampled were from low-income families, their average total IQ (WISC-III) was in the normal range. Within the children sample there were no significant differences between Verbal and Performance IQ. No significant dependence relationship between epidemiological variables and preterm low birth weight.CONCLUSION: Regardless of birth weight, without severe complications during pregnancy and childbirth, the child can develop their cognitive intellectual, their social and cognitive social skills in a satisfactory and harmonious, (provided that adequately stimulated and under the guidance of skilled professionals), the same way that passes the development of children born at term and normal birth weight. / INTRODUÇÃO: É grande o interesse de profissionais da área da Saúde para com os cuidados com crianças que nascem com baixo peso. Segundo a OMS (Organização Mundial de Saúde), são consideradas de baixo peso, crianças nascidas com peso ≤ 2.500g. As habilidades intelectuais, sociais e emocionais são necessárias para o bom desempenho escolar. Déficits de desenvolvimento se tornam especialmente evidentes quando as crianças atingem a idade pré-escolar, indicando que crianças que foram bebês prematuros de baixo peso ao nascimento têm desempenho escolar significativamente pior em relação a crianças da mesma idade. OBJETIVOS: Determinar o perfil epidemiológico e neuropsicológico de crianças prematuras, com baixo peso, assistidas em um hospital maternidade escola de São Luís, Maranhão. METODOLOGIA: Realizou-se estudo transversal com abordagem quantitativa, com coorte de nascimento no ano de 2001 de recém nascidos internados no Hospital Universitário Unidade Materno-Infantil do HUUFMA. Pesquisou-se 45 prontuários, destas crianças apenas 27 participaram do estudo, realizou-se levantamento de dados através dos prontuários e foi aplicada a Escala WISC III. RESULTADOS E DISCUSSÃO: Na pesquisa realizada os pais das crianças apresentavam nível sócio-econômico baixo, mas as crianças, em sua maioria apresentaram QI Total na categoria média na Escala WISC III; não foi encontrada nenhuma diferença estatística em QI Verbal, QI de execução e QI total dos grupos estudados, nem relação de dependência significativa entre variáveis epidemiológicas e prematuridade com baixo peso. CONCLUSÃO: Independente do peso ao nascer, sem intercorrências graves durante a gravidez e parto, a criança pode desenvolver seu cognitivo intelectual, seu cognitivo social e suas habilidades sociais de forma satisfatória e harmônica, (desde que estimuladas adequadamente e sob orientação de profissionais especializados), da mesma forma que transcorre o desenvolvimento de crianças que nascem a termo e com peso normal ao nascer.

Objetivo: Investigar a associação entre artéria umbilical única isolada e restrição do crescimento fetal. Métodos: Estudo caso controle com levantamento retrospectivo de gestações únicas com diagnóstico antenatal de artéria umbilical única isolada (AUUI), avaliadas entre 1998 e 2010. O grupo controle consistiu de gestações únicas acompanhadas prospectivamente e com confirmação anatomopatológica de três vasos no cordão umbilical. Os grupos foram comparados quanto à média do peso ao nascer, frequências de baixo peso ( < 2.500g), muito baixo peso ao nascer ( < 1.500g) e restrição do crescimento fetal abaixo dos percentis 5 e 10. Para as diferenças significativas foram calculadas as razões de riscos e respectivos intervalos de confiança. Análise por regressão logística foi utilizada para investigar a associação de restrição do crescimento fetal com as variáveis independentes significativas. Resultados: A diferença entre a média do peso ao nascer, entre as gestações com AUUI (n=131, 2.840+-701g) e o grupo controle (n=730, 2.983+-671g) foi de 143g (IC95%= 17-269; p=0,04). Peso ao nascer abaixo do percentil 5 foi significativamente mais comum nas gestações com AUUI (21,4% versus 13,6%, p= 0,02, LR= 1,57, IC95%: 1,07-2,25), particularmente, no subgrupo de gestações com antecedentes clínicos e/ou intercorrências obstétricas associadas (28,6% versus 14,1%, p= 0,02, LR= 2,22, IC95%: 1,12-4,25). Não foram observadas diferenças significativas em relação às frequências de peso ao nascer abaixo de 2.500g, abaixo de 1.500g e restrição abaixo do percentil 10. Análise por regressão logística revelou que peso ao nascer inferior ao percentil 5 se relacionou significativamente somente à presença de artéria umbilical única isolada. Conclusão: Gestações únicas com artéria umbilical única isolada apresentaram risco aumentado de 1,6 vezes de restrição do crescimento fetal abaixo do percentil 5. Quando associada a antecedente clínico materno e/ou intercorrência obstétrica o risco aumentou em 2,2 vezes / Objective: To examine the association between isolated single umbilical artery (ISUA) and fetal growth restricion. Methods: Case control study with retrospective review of 131 singleton pregnancies with isolated single umbilical artery diagnosed prenataly between 1998 and 2010. Control group consisted of 730 singleton pregnancies prospectively evaluated with histological confirmation of 3 vessels cord. Mean birthweight and frequency of low birthweight ( < 2,500g), very low birthweigh ( < 1,500g) and fetal growth restriction below the 5th and 10th centiles were compared between groups. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for significant differences. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between fetal growth restriction and significant independent variables. Results: The mean birthweight difference between ISUA (n=131, 2,840+-701g) and control (n=730, 2,983+-671g) pregnancies was 143g (95%CI= 17-269; p= 0.04). Birthweight below the 5th centile was more common in ISUA (21.4% versus 13.6%, p= 0.02, LR= 1.57, 95%CI: 1.07- 2.25); particularly in the subgroup of pregnancies with associated maternal disease or pregnancy complication (28.6% versus 14.1%, p= 0.02, LR= 2.22, 95%CI: 1.12-4.25). No significant differences were observed in low birthweight, very low birthweight or birthweight below the 10th centile. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that birthweight below the 5th centile was significantly associated with ISUA only. Conclusion: Isolated single umbilical artery is associated with 1.6 times increased risk of birthweight below the 5th centile. In pregnancies with associated maternal disease or pregnancy complication, this risk is increased 2.2 times

Introdução: O presente estudo trata da evolução da mortalidade perinatal hospitalar do município de Fortaleza-Ceará em dois momentos: 1995 e 2005. O interesse para a realização desta pesquisa parte da relevância dos cuidados oferecidos à mulher grávida e ao recém nascidocomo importante indicador da saúde materno infantil.Objetivos: Avaliar a evolução dos indicadores de saúde perinatal referentes aos nascimentos hospitalares de Fortaleza, Ceará, ocorridos em 1995 e em 2005.Metodologia: Estudo epidemiológico, do tipo ecológico, que estuda a evolução da saúde perinatal em Fortaleza, de 1995 a 2005, a partir da análise dos dados de dois estudos de base hospitalar. Todos os nascimentos foram acompanhados desde o parto até a alta ou óbito em hospital.Fizeram parte da população, todos os nascimentos e respectivos óbitos perinatais ocorridos em hospitais/maternidades públicas e particulares, conveniados com o SUS, no município de Fortaleza, CE, em 1995 e em 2005, disponíveis em dois bancos de dados já existentes.Resultados: Os resultados evidenciaram que nos dez anos (1995-2005) houve melhoria nos indicadores de saúde perinatal em Fortaleza. Os coeficientes de mortalidade perinatal hospitalar, fetal e neonatal precoce tiveram redução de 29 por cento, 19,0 por cento e de 42 por cento respectivamente. Em crianças com baixo peso ao nascer,observou-se declínio na mortalidade perinatal, fetal e neonatal precoce em todas as categorias. Chama-se atenção para a redução do coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal no grupo de recém nascidos de muito baixo peso (< 1500g), que passou de 821,1/1000 NV em 1995 para 532,2/1000 NV em 2005, com um declínio de 35,2 por cento. Quanto ao coeficiente de mortalidade neonatal precoce, a redução foi de 53,8 por cento, passando de 703,0/1000 NV para 324,7/1000 NV. Foi possível evidenciar mudanças referentes à reorganização da atenção perinatal em Fortaleza, quando se detectou uma maior participação dos hospitais públicos, que realizou um maior número de partos nos dez anos em 121 por cento por cento. Em 1995 a proporção de partos foi de 32,4 por cento e em 2005 de 71,7 por cento. Quanto à idade materna, os coeficientes de mortalidade perinatal, fetal e neonatal precoce nos dez anos tiveram reduções, com ênfase entre os filhos de mães adolescentes (10 a 19 anos). Para este grupo, o coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal obteve declínio de 54,2 por cento o de mortalidade fetal de 16,2 por cento e o de mortalidade neonatal precoce de 36,8 por cento. Conclusões: A mudança nos indicadores da saúde perinatal no município de Fortaleza mostra que houve uma melhora da atenção ao longo dos dez anos, revelando um cenário favorável na atenção prestada à mulher grávida e ao recém nascido na capital. Contudo, sabe-se que aspectos relacionados com o processo de trabalho e a organização da rede, ainda permanecem em níveis inferiores em relação , quando compara-se com outras capitais brasileiras, sendo necessárias medidas governamentais para que estas lacunas sejam remediadas / Introduction: This study deals with the evolution of perinatal mortality hospital in Fortaleza, Ceara on two occasions: 1995 and 2005. The interest for this research part of the relevance of care offered to pregnant women and newborn care as an important indicator of maternal and infant health.Objectives: To evaluate perinatal health indicators relating to hospital births in Fortaleza, occurring in 1995 and 2005.Methodology: Epidemiological study of ecological type, which studies the evolution of perinatal health in Fortaleza, from 1995 to 2005, based on the analysis of data from two hospital-based studies. All births were followed from birth until discharge or death in hospital. The population was composed of all births and perinatal deaths occurred in their hospitals / public hospitals and private contracts with the SUS in the city of Fortaleza, in1995 and 2005, available in two databases that already exist.Results: The results showed that within ten years (1995-2005) found a reduction in perinatal health indicators in Fortaleza. The hospital perinatal mortality rates, fetal and early neonatal fell by 29 per cent, 19.0 per cent and 42 per cent respectively. As birth weight were obtained decline in perinatal mortality, fetal and early neonatal in all categories. Attention is drawn to the reduction of perinatal mortality rate in the group of infants with very low birthweight (<1500g), now 821.1 / NV in 1000 to 532.2 in 1995 / 1000 NV in 2005, with a declining 35.2 per cent. As for early neonatal mortality rate, the reduction was 53.8 per cent, from 703.0 / 324.7 for 1000 NV / NV 1000. The results showed changes related to the reorganization of perinatal care in Fortaleza, when it detected a greater involvement of public hospitals, which increased the number of births in the ten years 121 per cent per cent. In 1995 the proportion of births was 32.4 per cent and 71.7 per cent in 2005. As for maternal age, perinatal mortality rates, fetal and early neonatal ten years have had reductions, with emphasis among the children of teenage mothers (10-19 years). For this group, the perinatal mortality rate decline of 84.7 per cent was obtained, the fetal mortality of 46.8 per cent and early neonatal mortality rate of 88.7 per cent.Conclusions: The change in perinatal health indicators in Fortaleza shows that there was an improvement of attention over the ten years, revealing a favorable outlook on care provided to pregnant women and newborn in capital.Contudo, it is known that aspects related to the work process and organization of the network, are still inconsistent when it is compared with other Brazilian cities, requiring government measures to these deficiencies are remedied

The birth of low weight babies in the United States has not had a meaningful decline for the last 10 years.It continues to be a major predictor of fetal-infant mortality. In addition, the rate of low birth weight infants among African American women continues to be twice that of European American women. Low birth weight babies may experience breathing problems, vision problems, diabetes, hypertension, and cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study was to examine why the high infant mortality rate persist among the African American communities of Southeast Queens, New York City as compared to European American communities in the Borough of Queens, New York City.This was a quantitative retrospective study with a correlational design that utilized secondary data derived from vital records maintained by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The investigation was guided by the ecological model as the theoretical framework to collect, assess, and analyze the data. Logistic regression was used to predict the association of risk factors to infant mortality. Low birth weight, preterm birth, late or no prenatal care, and smoking during pregnancy were risk factors associated with a high mortality rate among African American women. Positive social change implications for this study include the development of a social intervention that will be culturally based for the diverse communities of Southeast Queens, New York City. There will be a collaborative effort in implementing the evidence-based interventions involving interested stakeholders.

Preterm birth (PTB) is defined as birth before 37 weeks gestational age. PTB is a common outcome and one that may be increasing in prevalence with serious individual and public health implications both immediately and long term. While PTB is a pregnancy specific outcome it is more appropriately viewed as the culmination of risk factors present both before pregnancy and possibly in past generations. This thesis attempts to review the implications, risk factors and current prevention strategies directed at PTB while placing it in an intergenerational and life cycle context. Three novel investigations are presented and their consequences are discussed. These investigations cover the lifespan and relate to identifying PTB and treating its immediate health outcomes. The first examines mitochondrial genetics and it's relation to PTB. There is a strong a priori hypothesis that mitochondrial genetics, being maternally inherited, may contribute to an individual's risk for PTB. However, in two genome wide association studies, no evidence is found for any mitochondrial polymorphisms being related to PTB. The second investigation reports an attempt to identify women at risk for PTB within a given pregnancy. Using routinely collected maternal information and serum screening data a potentially useful screening method is derived. While the algorithm does not have ideal performance characteristics it compares favorably to other population wide screening techniques and could be improved through future validation and data collection. The third and final investigation attempts to address quality of care for infants born preterm. In a network of neonatal intensive care units, wide variations in mortality outcomes are observed. Intensity of medical intervention appears to be an important predictor of mortality for the lowest gestational age infants. However, this intensity of intervention does not fully explain the observed differences in mortality outcomes. Finally, these study are discussed in context with one another and a new framework for considering PTB is presented that may help to guide future investigation into predicting, preventing and caring for those at risk for or experiencing a PTB.

Introduction: The attention on environmental impact on human health is rising. But, the association between particulate matter 2.5 and birth weight is still not acknowledged in the global burden of diseases, and the association has not yet been studied in the Philippines. The aim was to explore how increasing/decreasing concentrations of particulate matter 2.5 in pregnant women’s residence area was associated with the risk of having a child with low birth weight in the Philippines. Method: 1462 women pregnant in 2016 from the Demographic and Health Survey done in the Philippines in 2017 were analyzed by exposure to particulate matter 2.5 in their residence area. Particulate matter 2.5 was derived from the DIMAQ model, which estimated the annual mean exposure based on a mix of methods. A logistic regression adjusted for demographic variables and variables important for fetal growth, and the birth season was done. Results: The results of the logistic regression when adjusted for all variables showed that the non-statistically significant odds of low birth weight in the children from to the particulate matter 2.5 categories: 7-10 μg/m3, 11-14 μg/m3, and 15-18 μg/m3 were respectively 21% lower (CI: 0.42-1.50), 33% lower (CI: 0.39-1.21) and 34% lower (CI: 0.39-1.14) compared to the highest exposure category of 19-22 μg/m3. Discussion: The study had several limitations in regard to the study design, especially in dealing with seasonal changes in low birth weight. Yet, the study did not disagree with the results from similar studies done in other countries or globally.

résumé Du fait de son impact sur la morbidité et la mortalité infantile, ainsi que de ses implications sur la santé à l’âge adulte, le petit poids de naissance constitue un problème majeur de santé publique. Le Burkina Faso, pays sahélien enclavé au cœur de l’Afrique occidentale est classé dans le groupe des pays pauvres très endettés et présente une forte prévalence de petit poids de naissance, imputable dans la majorité des cas au retard de croissance intra-utérine. Le contexte de ce travail, réalisé en milieu rural, se caractérise par une situation socioéconomique précaire se traduisant par un faible niveau des indicateurs de l’état de santé et une faible accessibilité aux services sociaux de base. Objectifs, hypothèses Ce travail repose sur les hypothèses que les facteurs socioéconomiques influencent la survenue du petit poids de naissance et que le petit poids de naissance a un impact négatif sur la croissance et la survie au cours de la première année de vie. Ce travail s’est fixé pour objectifs de : •connaître l’importance du petit poids de naissance à terme ; •analyser les déterminants du petit poids de naissance ; •proposer un score pour l’identification des femmes enceintes à risque de mise au monde d’un enfant de petit poids ; •identifier les facteurs influençant la croissance des enfants nés de petit poids ; •étudier l'impact du déficit pondéral à la naissance sur la morbidité et la mortalité infantile ; •formuler des recommandations pour la prévention et la prise en charge du petit poids de naissance en milieu défavorisé dans le but d’orienter les stratégies de réduction de la mortalité infantile. Méthodologie Trois types d’études ont été réalisés: •une étude de cohorte rétrospective portant sur 435 enfants dans le but d’explorer les facteurs de risque, la croissance, le statut nutritionnel et la mortalité des enfants nés de petit poids de naissance à terme. •Une étude transversale portant sur 1013 naissances vivantes à terme qui a permis de déterminer la fréquence du petit poids de naissance et d’analyser les facteurs associés qui lui étaient associés. •Une étude de cohorte prospective au cours de laquelle les 1013 enfants enrôlés dans l’étude transversale ont été suivis afin d’analyser leur croissance et leur survie au cours des 12 premiers mois de vie. Principaux résultats •Le petit poids de naissance représente 15,8% des naissances à terme. •Le sexe féminin est prédominant chez les enfants de petit poids. •Les facteurs sociodémographiques associés au petit poids de naissance sont essentiellement des caractéristiques sociodémographiques maternelles : le jeune âge de la mère (moins de 20 ans), le faible niveau d’instruction, le mauvais état nutritionnel et la faible accessibilité géographique aux structures de santé. •Les facteurs obstétricaux associés au petit poids sont : la primiparité, la survenue de vomissements gravidiques, l’exécution de travaux champêtres et une charge de travail plus importante en cours de grossesse. •Le score proposé pour l’identification des femmes à risque a un pouvoir de discrimination acceptable et présente une bonne stabilité et une faible marge d’erreur de prédiction. •Indépendamment de la catégorie de poids à la naissance, tous les enfants demeurent en dessous des médianes des courbes de référence internationales pour l’ensemble des indices nutritionnels entre 0 et 12 mois. •Malgré des gains plus importants mais de façon non significative, les enfants de PPN montrent une incapacité à combler leur retard en taille et en poids. •Le PPN est associé à un risque significativement plus élevé de retard de croissance et d’insuffisance pondérale au cours de la première année de vie. •Le petit poids de naissance et la non-complétude de la consultation prénatale étaient associés à un risque deux fois plus important de décès. •L’état nutritionnel à l’âge de 3 mois ainsi qu’à l’âge de 6 mois joue un rôle plus important dans la survie chez les enfants de PPN que chez les enfants nés de poids normal. Conclusions Les solutions au problème du petit poids de naissance impliquent un paquet d’interventions intégrant des stratégies avant, pendant et après la grossesse et des programmes de prise en charge ciblant les enfants de petit poids après leur naissance. Il s’agit prioritairement de : •l’information et de la sensibilisation des populations pour un meilleur suivi de la grossesse et une complétude de la consultation prénatale ; •l’adoption de pratiques et d’habitudes en faveur d’une alimentation équilibrée des femmes enceintes ; •un plaidoyer pour un allègement de la charge de travail des femmes enceintes ; •l’utilisation de méthodes opérationnelles pour l’identification des femmes à risque ; •l’amélioration de la qualité des prestations de surveillance de la grossesse ; •la redéfinition du contenu et des protocoles des programmes de suivi et de promotion de la croissance des jeunes enfants avec une attention particulière pour les enfants nés de petit poids ; •la lutte contre certaines pratiques sociales comme les mariages précoces et les grossesses chez les adolescentes et les femmes de moins de 20 ans ; •la promotion de la scolarisation des jeunes filles et l’alphabétisation des mères ; •l’amélioration de l’état nutritionnel de la population ; •la réalisation d’études pour évaluer l’impact de certains déterminants et interventions sur l’incidence du petit poids et le devenir des enfants nés avec un handicap pondéral : rôle de l’infection palustre, interventions nutritionnelles ciblant les enfants de petit poids, apports nutritionnels pendant la grossesse. Summary Due to its impact on infant morbidity and mortality, and its effects on adult’s health, low birth weight (LBW) is a major issue in the public health sector. Burkina Faso, a Sahelian country land-locked in the heart of West Africa is listed among the heavily indebted poor countries, with a high prevalence of Low Birth Weight, caused in most cases by intra uterine growth retardation. The context of the current study, conducted in urban area, is characterised by a poor socio-economic situation resulting in weak health indicators and difficult access to the basic social services. Objectives, assumptions The study is based o the assumptions that socio-economic factors have an influence on the occurrence of Low Birth Weight and that Low Birth Weight has a negative impact on growth and survival during the first year of the infant. The study has the following objectives: •To assess the importance of low birth weight a term; •To analyse the determinant factors of low birth weight; •To suggest a classification for the identification of pregnant women at risk of giving birth to low birth weight infants ; •To identify factors which have an impact on the growth of low birth weight children ; •To look at the impact of body weight deficiency at birth on infant morbidity and mortality ; •To give recommendations on the prevention and treatment of low birth weight children from underprivileged background with the aim to orientate strategies for infant mortality reduction. Methodology Three types of studies were conducted: •A retrospective cohort study of 435 children aiming at exploring risk factors, growth, nutritional status, and mortality of low birth weight infants in the long run. •A cross-sectional study of 1013 live full-term births, which led to determining the frequency of low birth weight and at analysing associated factors which are linked to low birth weight. •A prospective cohort study during which the 1013 children taken into consideration for the cross-sectional study were followed up so as to analyse their growth and survival all along the first 12 months of their life. Main results •Low birth weight represents 15.8% of full-term births. •Female babies are predominant among low birth weight babies. •Socio-demographic factors linked to low birth weight are mainly maternal socio-demographic characteristics: young mother (below 20 years old), low educational level, poor nutritional status and limited geographical access to health infrastructures. •Obstetrical factors linked to low birth weight are the following: primiparity, occurrence of vomiting during pregnancy, field work and a heavier workload during pregnancy. •The suggested classification for the identification of women at risk proves to have an acceptable power of discrimination and shows good stability and limited margin of error for prediction. •Regardless of weight categories at birth, all children remain below medians of international reference curves for all nutritional indicators between 0 and 12 months. •In spite of more important but not significant weight gains, LBW children prove not to be able to catch up on height and weight. •LBW is linked to a significantly higher risk in growth retardation and weight deficiency during the newborn’s first year of life. •LBW and non-complete antenatal visits are linked to a death risk multiplied by two. •The nutritional status at the age of 3 months and 6 months old plays a more important role in the survival in LBW children than in children born with normal weight. Conclusions Solutions to LBW imply a package of interventions which should integrate strategies before, during and after pregnancy, together with treatment programmes targeting LBW children after their birth. In priority, these are: •Information and awareness given to population for a better follow-up of pregnancies and complete cycles antenatal visits ; •New practices and habits to be taken on favouring a balanced diet of pregnant women ; •Advocacy actions aiming at reducing the workload of pregnant women ; •The use of operational methods to identify women at risk ; •Improving the quality of monitoring of pregnancy; •Redefined content and procedures of monitoring programs and promoting young children growth, with particular focus on LBW children ; •The fight against some social practices such as early marriages and pregnancies of teenagers and women below 20 years; •The promotion of school education for young girls and literacy for mothers ; •Improving the nutritional status of the population; •The realisation of studies to assess the impact of some determinant factors and interventions on the occurrence of low birth weight and on the future of children born with weight deficiency: role of malaria, nutritional interventions targeting LBW children, nutritional intakes during pregnancy

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Fragestellung, ob die Frühgeburtlichkeit eine Auswirkung auf den Spracherwerb im ersten Lebensjahr hat. Insbesondere wurde der Frage nachgegangen, ob sich die Verarbeitung der rhythmisch-prosodischen Eigenschaften von Sprache im ersten Lebensjahr und deren weitere Ausnutzung für die Entwicklung des Lexikons bei sehr untergewichtigen Deutsch lernenden Frühgeborenen im Vergleich zu Reifgeborenen unterscheidet. Die besondere Spracherwerbssituation Frühgeborener liefert weitere Erkenntnisse bezüglich der Frage, inwieweit der frühe Spracherwerb durch prädeterminierte reifungsbedingte Mechanismen und Abläufe bestimmt wird und inwieweit dessen Verlauf und die relevanten Erwerbsmechanismen durch individuelle erfahrungsabhängige Faktoren beeinflusst werden. Damit liefern die Ergebnisse auch einen weiteren Beitrag zur Nature-Nurture-Diskussion. / This research addresses the question if and how premature birth effects language acquisition during the first year of life. In particular the study focus on whether prosodic processing of language and the utilization of this knowledge for the acquisition of the lexicon during the fist year of life differs between German learning very low birth weight infants and term born infants. The specific exposure and postnatal situation of premature infants provide insights on the determination of early language acquisition and processes, and on the determination of language acquisition and its relevant mechanisms by individual experience. The results contribute to the nature-nurture discussion.

The objectives of the thesis was to explore partner violence during pregnancy in Nicaragua – its prevalence and characteristics, how women perceive, understand and cope with it, its association with specific child outcomes such as low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth, and possible pathways. A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted with 478 pregnant women and for a sub-sample of 147 salivary cortisol was measured. A case-referent hospital-based study was organized including 303 mothers immediately after delivery. In-depth interviews were conducted with women survivors to increase understanding of partner violence during pregnancy. The prevalence of emotional, physical and sexual partner abuse during pregnancy was 32.4%, 13.4% and 6.7% respectively. Seventeen percent of the victims suffered all three types of violence and in two thirds the abuse was severe and repeated. Half of the abused women had experienced punches and kicks directed to the abdomen; however, only 14% had sought health care and very few had disclosed the abuse or contacted police or authorities. Adolescent mothers, unwanted pregnancy and late registration for antenatal care or no check-ups were more likely among victims. The access to social resources facilitated the women’s ability to cope with the abuse, but the pregnancy itself was a barrier to receiving support from family, friends or society. The ability to confront abuse was determined by a complex interplay of factors such as economic independence, severity of abuse, access to social resources, implications for important others (i.e. children), socioeconomic group and a personal ability to cope with social norms. Low social resources, high levels of emotional distress and attempted suicide were associated with violence during pregnancy. Abuse during pregnancy was also found as an independent risk factor for LBW. Sixteen percent of LBW was attributed to physical abuse by a partner during pregnancy. A significant association between abuse during the index pregnancy and SGA was found. Partner violence during the pregnancy, low social resources and emotional distress were associated with higher levels of salivary cortisol. Pregnant women with high cortisol values were significantly more likely to give birth to SGA babies. A substantial decrease of birthweight, 142 grams, was estimated to be associated with increases in cortisol due to violence exposure. Partner violence during pregnancy is a serious social problem that impacts the rights, health and wellbeing of both the woman and her unborn child. The studies call for prioritization of intervention programmes for prevention and detection of violence, treatment and rehabilitation of the victims and the perpetrators, and change of the structural causes producing violence in society.