OBJETIVO: Visualizar padrões espaciais de mortalidade perinatal e identificar os municípios com prioridade para intervenção no Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo ecológico e exploratório utilizando técnica de geoprocessamento com dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde sobre mortalidade perinatal no Vale do Paraíba nos anos de 2004 a 2008. Foram obtidas taxas por 1.000 nascimentos e, a partir das distribuições dessas, foram criados mapas temáticos. Foi utilizado o índice de Moran, que estima autocorrelação espacial e foram identificados os municípios com alta prioridade de intervenção pelo diagrama de espalhamento de Moran, representado em forma de box map. Foi utilizado o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman para estudar a variável social IPRS (Índice Paulista de Responsabilidade Social) dos municípios estudados e o coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal. RESULTADOS: No período estudado foram incluídos 141.293 nascidos vivos, com 2244 óbitos perinatais, coeficiente médio de mortalidade de 20,4 (DP 6,8) e mediana de 18,9. O índice de Moran identificou dependência espacial entre os municípios analisados quanto à mortalidade neonatal precoce (p < 0,05), sendo que para a mortalidade fetal e perinatal não houve significância estatística, apesar do mapa de distribuição espacial do coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal ter identificado um aglomerado de municípios com coeficientes mais elevados. Nas variáveis estudadas observamos contribuição maior da gestação na adolescência na mortalidade perinatal. Foram identificados cinco municípios com alta prioridade para intervenções. CONCLUSÃO: A análise espacial foi um instrumento útil para identificar os municípios onde há necessidade de intervenção em relação à mortalidade perinatal / OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze spatial standards of perinatal mortality and identify the priority cities for intervention in the Paraiba Valley, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This is an ecological and exploratory study using a technique of geoprocessing with data of the Informatics Department of the Single Health System on perinatal mortality in the years of 2004 to 2008. Rates per 1000 births were obtained and, starting from the distribution of these rates, thematic maps were created. The global Moran index, which estimates the spatial autocorrelation was used, and the cities with high priority for intervention were identified according to the Moran scattering diagram, represented in box map. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to study the socioeconomic variable IPRS (Social Responsibility Index of Sao Paulo State) of the cities studied and the perinatal mortality coefficient. RESULTS: During the study period, 141.293 live births were included, with 2244 perinatal deaths, with average coefficient of 20,4 and median of 18,9. The global Moran index was 0,24 (p < 0,05) for early neonatal mortality, demonstrating a spatial autocorrelation among the cities for these coefficient, while fetal and perinatal mortality have no statistical significance, despite the spatial distribution map of perinatal mortality coefficient have identified a cluster of cities with higher coefficients. In the variables studied, we observed a greater contribution of the variable adolescent pregnant. Five cities deserving special attention for future interventions were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The spatial analysis was a useful tool in identifying the cities in which an intervention is necessary regarding the perinatal mortality

O presente estudo tem como objetivo descrever a mortalidade perinatal em gestações trigemelares, e analisar os fatores preditores dos seguintes desfechos: número de crianças vivas no momento da alta hospitalar, nenhuma criança viva no momento da alta hospitalar (desfavorável) e pelo menos uma criança viva no momento da alta hospitalar (favorável). Realizado de forma retrospectiva, envolveu pacientes com gestações trigemelares que apresentavam três fetos vivos na primeira ultrassonografia realizada após 11 semanas, no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), no período de 1998 a 2012. Foram incluídas 67 pacientes das quais 77,6% referiam concepção espontânea. Quanto à corionicidade, 49,2% eram tricoriônicas e 50,8% eram não tricoriônicas; 16,4% apresentavam antecedente clínico prévio à gestação e 49,2% eram nulíparas. Em relação às intercorrências, a incidência de complicações obstétricas e/ou clínicas na gestação foi de 52,2%, e de intercorrências fetais, 25,2%, dentre as quais: 13,4% mal formações, 7,5% sindrome da transfusão feto fetal (STFF), 5,9% óbito fetal (OF), 4,5% insuficiência placentária, 4,4% fetos unidos, 1,5% feto acárdico. A idade gestacional média do parto foi de 31,9 ± 3,1 semanas, dos quais 83,5% foram cesáreas. O peso médio dos recém-nascidos vivos de 1.683 ± 508 g. Em relação à discordância de peso ao nascer: 57% apresentaram até 20%, 23,2% entre 20 e 30% e 19,6% acima de 30%. A taxa de óbitos fetais foi de 31,7%o nascimentos (IC95%: 11,7 - 67,8) e a mortalidade perinatal 249%o nascimentos (IC95%: 189 - 317). O tempo médio de internação dos recém-nascidos, que foram de alta vivos, foi de 29,3 ± 24,7 dias. A predição dos desfechos foi investigada por meio de regressão logística \"stepwise\", e incluiu as seguintes variáveis: idade materna, paridade (nulípara ou um ou mais partos anteriores), antecedente clínico, idade gestacional do primeiro ultrassonografia no HCFMUSP, corionicidade (gestações tricoriônicas e gestações não tricoriônicas), presença de complicação obstétrica ou clínica durante a gestação, intercorrência fetal e idade gestacional do parto. O nível de significância estatística utilizado foi de 0,005. Foram fatores significativos para predição do número de crianças vivas no momento da alta hospitalar: presença de intercorrência fetal (OR 0,1, IC95%: 0,03 - 0,36; p < 0,001) e idade gestacional do parto (OR 1,55, IC95%: 1,31-1,85; p < 0,001). Para a predição dos desfechos favoráveis e desfavoráveis a idade gestacional do parto apresentou significância estatística (OR 1,84, IC95%: 1.26 - 2.7; p=0,002 e OR 0.54, IC 95%: 0.37-0.79; p=0.002, respectivamente) / The present study, involving triplet pregnancies, describes perinatal mortality and investigates predictors of the following outcomes: number of children alive, no child alive (unfavorable outcome) and at least one child alive (favorable outcome) at hospital discharge. It is a retrospective study involving triplet pregnancies with live fetuses at the first ultrasound scan, performed after 11 weeks of gestation, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, São Paulo University Medical School Hospital, between 1998 and 2012. Final sample included 67 women, 77.6% reported spontaneous conception. Regarding the chorionicity, 49.2% were trichorionic; 16.4% had a medical complication prior to pregnancy, and 49.2% were nulliparous. The incidence of obstetric and/or clinical complications during pregnancy was 52.2%, and fetal complications occurred in 25.2%, (13.4% of major fetal abnormalities, 7.5% twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, 5.9% stillbirth, 4.5% placental insufficiency, 4.4% conjoined twins and 1.5% acardic twin). The average gestational age at delivery was 31.9 ± 3.1 weeks, and 83.5% were cesarean. The average birthweight was 1683 ± 508 g and birth weight discordance up to 20% occurred in 57% of the cases; 23,2% had 20 to 30% discordance and 19.6%, was greater than 30%. The rate of stillbirth was 31.7%o births (95%CI: 11.7 - 67.8) and the perinatal mortality was 249%o births (95%CI: 189 - 317). The average hospital stay was 29.3 ± 24.7 days amongst children that were discharged alive. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to investigate prediction according to: maternal age, parity (nuliparous/multiparous), prior clinical history, gestational age at the first ultrasound scan at HCFMUSP, pregnancy chorionicity (trichorionic/non trichorionic), occurrence of clinical and/or obstetric complications during pregnancy, occurrence of fetal complications and gestational age at delivery. Significance level was set at 0.05. The number of children alive at hospital discharge was correlated with the occurrence of fetal complications (OR 0,1, 95%IC: 0,03 - 0,36; p < 0,001) and gestational age at delivery (OR 1,55, IC95%: 1,31-1,85; p < 0,001). Whereas favorable and unfavorable outcome were associated with gestational age at delivery (OR 1.84, 95%CI: 1.26 - 2.7-; p=0,002 and OR 0.54, 95%CI: 0.37-0.79; p=0.002, respectively)

OBJETIVO: Visualizar padrões espaciais de mortalidade perinatal e identificar os municípios com prioridade para intervenção no Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo ecológico e exploratório utilizando técnica de geoprocessamento com dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde sobre mortalidade perinatal no Vale do Paraíba nos anos de 2004 a 2008. Foram obtidas taxas por 1.000 nascimentos e, a partir das distribuições dessas, foram criados mapas temáticos. Foi utilizado o índice de Moran, que estima autocorrelação espacial e foram identificados os municípios com alta prioridade de intervenção pelo diagrama de espalhamento de Moran, representado em forma de box map. Foi utilizado o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman para estudar a variável social IPRS (Índice Paulista de Responsabilidade Social) dos municípios estudados e o coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal. RESULTADOS: No período estudado foram incluídos 141.293 nascidos vivos, com 2244 óbitos perinatais, coeficiente médio de mortalidade de 20,4 (DP 6,8) e mediana de 18,9. O índice de Moran identificou dependência espacial entre os municípios analisados quanto à mortalidade neonatal precoce (p < 0,05), sendo que para a mortalidade fetal e perinatal não houve significância estatística, apesar do mapa de distribuição espacial do coeficiente de mortalidade perinatal ter identificado um aglomerado de municípios com coeficientes mais elevados. Nas variáveis estudadas observamos contribuição maior da gestação na adolescência na mortalidade perinatal. Foram identificados cinco municípios com alta prioridade para intervenções. CONCLUSÃO: A análise espacial foi um instrumento útil para identificar os municípios onde há necessidade de intervenção em relação à mortalidade perinatal / OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze spatial standards of perinatal mortality and identify the priority cities for intervention in the Paraiba Valley, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This is an ecological and exploratory study using a technique of geoprocessing with data of the Informatics Department of the Single Health System on perinatal mortality in the years of 2004 to 2008. Rates per 1000 births were obtained and, starting from the distribution of these rates, thematic maps were created. The global Moran index, which estimates the spatial autocorrelation was used, and the cities with high priority for intervention were identified according to the Moran scattering diagram, represented in box map. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to study the socioeconomic variable IPRS (Social Responsibility Index of Sao Paulo State) of the cities studied and the perinatal mortality coefficient. RESULTS: During the study period, 141.293 live births were included, with 2244 perinatal deaths, with average coefficient of 20,4 and median of 18,9. The global Moran index was 0,24 (p < 0,05) for early neonatal mortality, demonstrating a spatial autocorrelation among the cities for these coefficient, while fetal and perinatal mortality have no statistical significance, despite the spatial distribution map of perinatal mortality coefficient have identified a cluster of cities with higher coefficients. In the variables studied, we observed a greater contribution of the variable adolescent pregnant. Five cities deserving special attention for future interventions were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The spatial analysis was a useful tool in identifying the cities in which an intervention is necessary regarding the perinatal mortality

Background Reproductive health and health events associated with pregnancy including induced abortions are among the most important factors for the health of fertile women. Adverse outcomes have an impact on women’s reproductive health and their overall health as well as the health of their offspring. Pregnancy and child bearing take place within a cultural context. Risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes depend on factors both associated with the individual woman as well as contextual factors. Aims This thesis investigates reproductive health indicators and their determinants for women in a rural district in Vietnam with special focus on adverse pregnancy outcomes and their determinants. In addition, this thesis explores the perspectives and experiences among pregnant women and health care professionals on maternal health care in Vietnam and risks during pregnancy and delivery. Methods The studies used quantitative and qualitative methods.  In the quantitative studies a total of 4,396 women reporting 5,838 pregnancies, and 5,521 infants were included. Parametric and non parametric tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.   For the estimation of small for gestational age a population-specific reference curve was constructed based on the mean birth weight at term in the study population. In the qualitative studies data were collected from eight focus group discussions, four with pregnant women and four with health care professionals. Manifest and latent content analysis was applied.  Main findings Women belonging to an ethnic minority or women giving birth at home were at increased risk of stillbirth.  The risk of induced abortion increased with maternal age. Neonatal mortality was estimated to 11.6 per 1000 live births and perinatal mortality to 25.0 per 1000 births. The prevalence of small for gestational age was estimated to 6.4%. Risk factors for small for gestational age included women in farming occupations and post-term birth. There was a marked decrease in perinatal mortality after 33 weeks of gestation. Contextual conditions influenced both pregnant women’s use of maternal health care and the performance of the health care professionals. The use of maternal health care was influenced by economical conditions as well as cultural norms that impeded women’s autonomy. Structural constraints included inadequate financing of the health system, including lack of staff, insufficient professional re-training, and inadequate equipment. Pregnant women in rural Vietnam created a strategy to promote a healthy pregnancy through lifestyle adjustments, gathering of information, and seeking timely medical care. Insights in pregnancy-related conditions were sought from various sources and were influenced both by Vietnamese traditions and modern medical knowledge. Conclusions Knowledge about pregnancy complications and their related signs and symptoms, and a high confidence in the maternal health care probably contribute to the relatively good maternal health status and pregnancy outcomes in Vietnam. To improve perinatal and neonatal outcomes there is a need to ensure access for all pregnant women to delivery units with surgical capacity in case of an obstetrical emergency. Also, a higher proportion of premature infants need to be born at units with access to neonatal care. This may be achieved by an improved system for referral including capacity of medical care during transportation. Other desirable improvements include antenatal identification of small for gestational age foetuses. In our study the induced abortion rate increased with maternal age and was highest among married women, indicating that induced abortions may be used as a method for family planning. The cultural norms in Vietnam limit women’s autonomy and reduce their possibility to make independent decisions about their reproductive health. Our studies emphasize the importance of adequate access for all women to maternal health care adjusted for their individual needs. A better understanding is needed of context-specific factors that influence couples’ choice of family planning methods, place of birth, and maternal health care. The communication between pregnant women and health care professionals needs further investigation. This knowledge is essential in order to develop reproductive health services that are accessible, acceptable and affordable to all.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser. Även tryckt utgåva.

Obstructed labour contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality among both mothers and babies in Ethiopia nationwide, and also in the West-Wollega region where this study was conducted. The researcher used a retrospective hospital based review of maternity files to quantify the problem of obstructed labour in the selected hospital. The findings revealed that maternal and perinatal mortality due to obstructed labour amounted to 1.4% and 7.5% respectively. Most of these complications could be prevented by proper antenatal care and careful attentive monitoring during delivery with proper use of the partogram which will indicate the occurrence of complications in good time when successful and life saving interventions are still available. The findings clearly show that poor documentation in general and very sporadic usage of the partogram in particular contributes significantly to the complications for mother and child. Re-introduction of proper documentation and careful use of the partogram are advocated / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Introdução: Conquistar a integralidade, a mais complexa diretriz do SUS, se constitui um permanente desafio, visto que, ao contrário da universalidade do acesso e da descentralização, parece, ainda, distante de ser alcançada. Objetivo: Caracterizar óbitos perinatais ocorridos em residentes em Fortaleza, 2006, para compreender o potencial da integralidade da atenção no sistema local de saúde. Métodos: Foram utilizados métodos complementares de pesquisa - quantitativa e qualitativa. Na abordagem qualitativa realizaram-se entrevistas individuais às mães de crianças que sobreviveram ao período neonatal e mães que perderam seus conceptos no período perinatal. Estudo transversal que incluiu o universo dos óbitos perinatais, a partir de dados dos sistemas oficiais de informação sobre mortalidade e sobre nascidos vivos e do relacionamento de dados entre os mesmos, consubstanciou a pesquisa quantitativa. Resultados e Discussão: A taxa de mortalidade perinatal foi 17,0/1000 nascidos totais - 8,2 para óbitos fetais e 8,8 para neonatais precoces. As principais causas encontradas foram: asfixia (24por cento ) - 4 vezes maior entre natimortos; baixo peso ao nascer cuja mortalidade foi 30 vezes maior entre os 25por cento com menos de 2500g; prematuridade (32,4por cento ); malformações congênitas (9,5por cento ) e infecções (7,0por cento ) inclusive 03 casos de sífilis congênita. Fatores de risco potenciais, como idade da mãe de 10 -14 anos, mais freqüente entre óbitos neonatais precoces, e de 35 e mais anos entre os fetais. A mortalidade foi mais alta (98,0/1000 nascidos totais) entre filhos de mães com nenhuma escolaridade - risco potencial importante - cuja elevada freqüência foi também percebida nas entrevistas que, por sua vez, evidenciaram uma categoria acrescentada ao estudo: a relação médico-paciente, considerada falha e desatenciosa, na percepção das mães, quanto aos esclarecimentos sobre alto risco na gestação e no parto. Destacou-se, ainda, o sentimento das mães sobre a falta da visita domiciliar na gravidez e de acompanhante no parto. Conclusões e algumas considerações: A baixa escolaridade pareceu um critério de 9 evitabilidade mais apropriado para uso em países em desenvolvimento, como o Brasil, do que aqueles da classificação de Wigglesworth, inclusive de acesso mais complexo nestes países. Para gestantes com baixa ou nenhuma escolaridade, o sistema de saúde poderia ofertar atenção especial, fortalecendo atividades educativas, adotando a interconsulta especializada e acompanhante no parto / Introduction - To achieve the integrality (comprehensive health care), the more complex SUS guideline, is an ongoing challenge, because, unlike the universality of access and decentralization, it still seems very far. Objective - To characterize perinatal deaths occurred among residents in Fortaleza, 2006, in order to understand the potential of the integrality of the care in the health system. Methods - It was adopted both, quantitative and qualitative methodologies that are complementary one to another. In the qualitative approach, individual interviews were carried out to mothers of children who survived the neonatal period and mothers who lost their babies in the perinatal period. A cross-sectional study that included the universe of perinatal deaths, based on data from official systems of information on births and deaths and also using the relationship of data between them, embodied quantitative research. Results and discussion - The perinatal mortality rate was 17.0 / 1,000 births - 8.2 to 8.8 for stillbirths and early neonatal deaths, respectively. The main causes were: asphyxia (24per cent ) - four times higher among stillbirths; low birth weight whose mortality was 30 times higher among the 25per cent weighting less than 2500g; prematurity (32.4per cent ); congenital malformations (9.5per cent ) and infections (7.0per cent ) including three cases of congenital syphilis. Potential risk factors such as maternal age of 10 -14 years old, more frequent among early neonatal deaths, while the fetal deaths occurred more among mothers are 35 and more. Mortality was highest (98.0/1,000 births) among children of mothers with no education - important potential risk factor which high frequency was also seen among the interviewee that, in turn, added a new category to the study as doctor-patient relationship considered failure and disrespectful on the perception of mothers regarding the details of high risk in pregnancy and childbirth. Was highlighted, too, the feeling of mothers about the lack of home visit by community health work during pregnancy and, also, of companion at childbirth. Conclusion and considerations - The low 11 educational level seemed a criterion more suitable for use in developing countries like Brazil, to avoid perinatal deaths, than those of Wigglesworth\'s classification, which is more difficult to obtain in these countries. For pregnant women with low/no education, the health system could strength health educational activities, adopt specialized attention and companion at hospital

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:57:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Maria_Clara_R_Mendez.pdf: 2257913 bytes, checksum: 52c896a3946855e35c039692e3b8ed69 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-09 / Although adolescent fertility rates are decreasing worldwide, adolescent childbearing keeps its visibility as a social phenomenon that needs special attention by policy makers and researchers. Many studies suggest that being a teenage mother have deleterious effects for her own health and her child s health during the first years of life. Other authors point out that teenage childbearing also had long-term consequences; however, the literature in this regard is limited, particularly in low and middle income countries. The 1982, 1993 and 2004 Pelotas birth cohorts provided a valuable opportunity to study the short and long-term consequences of adolescent childbearing on several offspring outcomes relate to health, behavior, education and employment. The hypothesis of an increased risk of death during the fetal, perinatal, neonatal, post-neonatal and infant periods among offspring of adolescent mothers was tested in all three cohorts. Additionally, we tested hypotheses regarding the long-term consequences on offspring, including health-related behaviors, sexual activity, education and employment in adolescents and young adults. Our results showed a greater likelihood of post-neonatal mortality among offspring of adolescent mothers after adjustment for confounders. However, this effect disappeared after controlling for factors such as weight gain during pregnancy and antenatal care. Moreover, children of teenage mothers were more likely to initiate sexual intercourse before age 16, to be themselves teenage parents, and to begin family formation earlier. On balance, the results from both Pelotas cohort studies and a systematic review of the literature suggest that pre-gestational socioeconomic and family characteristics explained most of the adverse events observed in children. Therefore, programs for prevention of adolescent childbearing should target to change the circumstances surrounding teenage mothers, such as low education and poverty, because these remain the most important predictors of the disadvantage conditions of their offspring in relation to health and socioeconomic characteristics. / Embora as taxas de fecundidade na adolescência estejam diminuindo, a maternidade na adolescência mantém sua visibilidade como fenômeno social que necessita especial atenção de gestores públicos e pesquisadores. Muitos estudos sugerem que ser mãe na adolescência tem efeitos deletérios para a saúde da própria mãe e para seu filho nos primeiros anos de vida. Outros autores apontam para efeitos adversos a longo prazo, porém, a literatura neste sentido é limitada, particularmente em países de renda media e baixa. As coortes de nascimentos de Pelotas de 1982, 1993 e 2004 ofereceram uma valiosa oportunidade para estudar as consequências a curto e longo prazo da maternidade na adolescência sobre diferentes desfechos relacionados à saúde, comportamento, educação e emprego dos filhos. A hipótese de que a maternidade na adolescência confere um maior risco de mortalidade nos períodos fetal, perinatal, neonatal, pós-neonatal e infantil foi testada nas três coortes. Adicionalmente, foram analisadas consequências a longo prazo, incluindo comportamentos relacionados à saúde, atividade sexual, escolaridade e emprego em adolescentes e adultos jovens. Nossos resultados apontaram para uma maior probabilidade de morte no período pós-neonatal entre filhos de mães adolescentes após ajuste para fatores de confusão. No entanto, este efeito desapareceu após controle para variáveis relacionadas aos cuidados durante a gravidez (ganho de peso e visitas pré-natais). Além disso, filhos de mães adolescentes apresentaram maior probabilidade de iniciar relações sexuais antes dos 16 anos, de serem pais na adolescência e de formarem suas próprias famílias mais precocemente. Em geral, tanto nos resultados das coortes de Pelotas quanto em uma revisão sistemática da literatura, identificou-se que características socioeconômicas e familiares pré-gestacionais explicaram a maior parte dos efeitos adversos observados nos filhos. Portanto, os programas para a prevenção da maternidade na adolescência devem visar à modificação das circunstâncias que envolvem as mães adolescentes, como a baixa escolaridade e a pobreza, pois estas continuam sendo as preditoras de maior importância das condições de desvantagens de seus filhos em relação à saúde e características socioeconômicas.

L’asthme maternel complique environ 3,4% à 12,4% des grossesses dans les pays développés ce qui en fait une des maladies chroniques les plus fréquentes pouvant engendrer de sérieux problèmes médicaux chez la mère et le fœtus. D’autre part, un taux relativement important de femmes enceintes, soit 4 à 7%, utilisent des médicaments anti-asthmatiques. La mortinaissance, la mortalité néonatale et/ou la mortalité périnatale sont les issues de grossesses les plus dramatiques pour l’enfant et la famille. Toutefois, l’effet de l’asthme et de l’utilisation des corticostéroïdes inhalés (CSI) pendant la grossesse sur ces complications a été inadéquatement évalué. La majorité des études qui ont évalué ces associations souffraient d’un manque de puissance statistique et/ou d’une absence ou d’un ajustement inadéquat pour les variables potentiellement confondantes. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse ont donc pour objectif d’évaluer le risque de mortalité périnatale chez les femmes asthmatiques comparativement aux femmes non- asthmatiques. Cette thèse vise également à évaluer si les femmes asthmatiques exposées aux CSI courent plus de risque de mortalité périnatale que les femmes asthmatiques non exposées et si le risque de mortalité périnatale varie en fonction de la dose quotidienne de CSI utilisée par la mère pendant la grossesse. À l’aide du croisement de trois bases de données administratives du Québec, une large cohorte de femmes asthmatiques et non-asthmatiques qui ont eu au moins une grossesse entre 1990 et 2002 a été construite (n=41 142). À partir de cette cohorte, deux cohortes de grossesses ont été constituées. Les deux premières études présentées dans cette thèse sont basées sur toute la cohorte alors que la dernière étude est basée uniquement sur les grossesses de femmes asthmatiques. Une étude de cohorte a d’abord été réalisée afin d’évaluer l’effet de l’asthme maternel sur le risque de mortalité périnatale permettant l’ajustement pour les variables provenant des bases de données administratives. Afin de mieux estimer le risque de mortalité périnatale chez les femmes asthmatiques une étude de cohorte comprenant deux phases d’échantillonnage a ensuite été réalisée à l’aide d’informations additionnelles sur le tabagisme, l’utilisation de drogue illicite et l’histoire de mortinaissances, colligées à partir du dossier médical de la mère. Finalement, le risque de mortalité périnatale chez les femmes asthmatiques qui ont utilisé des CSI pendant la grossesse et le risque de mortalité périnatale en fonction de la dose moyenne quotidienne de CSI consommée par la mère pendant la grossesse ont été investigués à l’aide d’une étude de cohorte à deux phases d’échantillonnage chez les femmes asthmatiques uniquement. Nous avons premièrement observé que l’asthme pendant la grossesse pourrait augmenter le risque de mortalité périnatale due à l’augmentation du risque de bébés de petits poids et de bébés prématurés chez les femmes asthmatiques (OR=1,30; IC 95%: 1,05-1,57). Toutefois, après avoir ajusté pour le tabagisme pendant la grossesse, le risque relatif de mortalité périnatale a diminué à 12% et l’association n’est pas demeurée statistiquement significative (OR= 1,12; IC 95%: 0,87-1,45). Finalement, l’utilisation de CSI pendant la grossesse, lorsque la dose n’a pas été considérée, n’a pas été associé à une augmentation significative du risque de mortalité périnatale (OR= 1,07; IC 95% : 0,70-1,61) et un effet protecteur non-significatif de l’utilisation de doses de CSI de 250 ug ou moins par jour a été observé (OR=0,89; IC 95%: 0,55 -1,44). Toutefois, les femmes qui ont pris des doses >250 ug/jour avaient un risque accru de mortalité périnatale de 52%, mais cette association n’était pas statistiquement significative (OR=1,52; IC 95%: 0,62-3,76). Cette augmentation du risque pourrait toutefois résulter d’un ajustement imparfait pour la sévérité et le contrôle de l’asthme (les femmes asthmatiques qui ont utlisé >250 ug/jour sont susceptibles d’avoir un asthme plus sévère ou inadéquatement maîtrisé). Les conclusions de nos travaux qui sont plutôt rassurantes pourront contribuer à une meilleure prise en charge des femmes enceintes asthmatiques, à aider les médecins dans la prescription de CSI pendant la grossesse et à rassurer les femmes enceintes souffrant d’asthme et les femmes enceintes qui doivent utiliser des CSI. Toutefois, des études supplémentaires sont nécessaires afin de pouvoir conclure que l’utilisation de doses plus élevées de CSI (>250 ug/jour) pendant la grossesse sont sécuritaires. / Maternal asthma is one of the most common medical conditions in developed contries that can cause serious problems for the mother and the foetus with 3.4% to 12.4% of pregnancies complicated by asthma. On the other hand, a relatively important rate of of pregnant women, 4% to 7%, uses anti-asthmatic drugs. Stillbirth, neonatal mortality and/or perinatal mortality are the most dramatic perinatal pregnancy outcomes for children and families. However, the effect of asthma and the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) during pregnancy on these perinatal outcomes have been inadequately evaluated. Most studies that have evaluated these associations suffer from a lack of statistical power and/or a lack or an inadequate adjustment for potential confounding variables. The objectives of this thesis were to evaluate the risk of perinatal mortality among asthmatic women compared to non-asthmatic women. This thesis also aims at evaluating whether or not asthmatic women exposed to ICS during pregnancy are more at risk of perinatal mortality than asthmatic women who are not exposed to ICS as well as estimating the risk of perinatal mortality as a function of the daily dose of ICS taken by the mother during pregnancy. From the linkage of three of Quebec’s administrative databases, a large cohort was created including asthmatics and non-asthmatic women who had at least one pregnancy between 1990 and 2002 (n=41 142). From this cohort, two cohorts of pregnancies were constructed. The first two studies presented in this thesis were based on the entire cohort, whereas the third study was based only on the pregnancies of asthmatic women. A cohort study was first conducted to evaluate the effect of maternal asthma on the risk of perinatal mortality while adjusting for confounding variables derived from the administrative databases. To better quantify the association between maternal asthma and the risk of perinatal mortality, a two-stage sampling cohort design was conducted using additional information on smoking, illicit drug use and history of stillbirths, which were gathered from the medical charts of a sampling of mothers. Finally, the risk of perinatal mortality among asthmatic women exposed to ICS during pregnancy and the risk of perinatal mortality according to the daily dose of ICS taken during pregnancy were evaluated with a two-stage sampling cohort design among asthmatics women only. Firstly, we observed that asthma during pregnancy may increase the risk of perinatal mortality due to an increased risk of low birth weight and premature delivery among asthmatic women (OR=1.30; 95%CI: 1.05-1.57). However, after adjusting for cigarette smoking, the relative risk of perinatal mortality decreased to 12% and did not remain statistically significant. Finally, no significant increased risk of perinatal mortality among asthmatic women exposed to ICS during pregnancy (any doses) as compared to asthmatic women who were not exposed to ICS during pregnancy was observed (OR=1.07 (95% CI: 0.70 -1.61)) and a non-significant protective effect was observed among women who used 250 ug or less of ICS per day (OR=0.89; 95% CI: 0.55 -1.44)). However, the use of more than 250 ug/day of ICS was associated with a 52% increased risk of perinatal mortality, but the association was not significant (OR=1.52; 95% CI: 0.62-3.76). This increased risk may be explain by an inadequate adjustment for asthma severity and control (asthmatic women who used more than 250 ug/day of ICS may have more severe and uncontrolled asthma). The conclusions of our work which is rather reassuring can contribute to a better management of asthma during pregnancy, assist physicians in prescribing ICS during pregnancy and reassure pregnant women with asthma and pregnant women who should use ICS. However, additional studies are needed before we can conclude that higher doses of ICS (> 250 ug/day) are safe during pregnancy.

The purpose of the study was to determine the causes, of the increased perinatal mortality, identify and describe other factors contributing to the increased perinatal mortality rate in a rural healthcare facility situated in Sekhukhune district in Limpopo province, and to formulate the recommendations that will reduce the perinatal mortality rate based on the results. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective design was conducted. The study population was one hundred and sixty two (162) records of babies who died in the perinatal facility from the 1st January 2015 to the 31st December 2015 with a gestational age of about 28 weeks or more. No sampling was done, but a census was used. The sample comprised of one hundred and sixty two (162) of all the records related to perinatal mortality. Data were collected from patients’ records by using a checklist. Analysis of the data was performed by the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 14 computer software. Frequency tables and pie graphs were used to present the data. The results indicated that 75.3% (n=122) of the records were associated with health personnel as a factor contributing to perinatal mortality. Furthermore, preterm cases accounted for 45.1% (n=73) and prematurity accounted for 37.0% (n=60) of the cases of perinatal mortality. Therefore, preterm births and prematurity are risk factors that should be managed immediately after birth, and all babies should be managed prior to being transferred to the other healthcare institutions. The recommendations are that the education of patients about early antenatal visit, signs of labour and danger signs during pregnancy and training of healthcare workers on record-keeping have to be done on a continuous basis. Managers should conduct quality improvement programmes, benchmarking and implement maternal and neonatal guidelines in the clinical area throughout pregnancy. / Health Studies / M. P. H. (Health Studies)