Hospitalizations during infancy in three population-based studies in Southern Brazil: Trends and differentials

Alicia Matijasevich, Juraci A. Cesar, Iná S. Santos, Aluísio J D Barros, Maria Alice S O Dode, Fernando C. Barros, Cesar G. Victora

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Three cohort studies of children born in the urban area of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, were carried out, in 1982, 1993, and 2004. The aim of these studies was to measure the occurrence of hospitalization in the first year of life and to examine the association between hospitalization and the cause of admission and sex, birth weight, and family income. Cause of admission was categorized as "diarrhea" and "all other causes". The frequency of children hospitalized at, least once during their first year of life was 19.6% in 1982, 18.1% in 1993, and 19.2% in 2004. There was a marked reduction in hospitalizations due to diarrhea, but the frequency of hospitalization for all causes remained constant. In all three cohorts, infants from, poorer families and those born weighing under 2,000g showed the highest frequencies of hospitalization due to diarrhea and all other causes, and the latter also showed a marked increase in hospitalizations due to all causes. These findings could be explained by an epidemic of preterm births in the study population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalCadernos de saúde pública / Ministério da Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública.
Volume24
Issue numberSUPPL.3
StatePublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Child welfare
  • Cohort studies
  • Hospitalization
  • Morbidity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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