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Background: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a significant public health and pregnancy-related problem, such as spontaneous abortion, stillbirth or low birth weight. According to the WHO, there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Studies show high rates of alcohol consumption during pregnancy in sub-Saharan African countries with a prevalence range (2.2-87%). This research aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of alcohol consumption among pregnant women attending antenatal care in a rural district of Tete, Mozambique. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted between May and June 2022. The non-probability convenience method was applied for sample selection. Prevalence was determined using a 95% CI. binary logistic Regression was used to determine the factors associated with alcohol consumption. Data were analysed using statistical SPPS v26 and Stata. Results: The prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy was 85.9% (152/177; 95% CI: 80.7-91.0), which was associated with increasing age (OR= 8.86; 95% CI: 2.646-29.687; p-value = 0.000 and OR= 9.81; 95% CI: 2.262-42.576; p-value = 0.002) respectively. In addition, another associated factor was following some religion (OR= 0.07; 95% CI: 0.020-0.246; p-value = 0.000). Conclusion: The survey significantly reveals a high prevalence of alcohol consumption among pregnant women attended in a antenatal care in Chitima. Maternal age and religion were the variables that have some significant association with alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Therefore, interventions for behavioural change to reduce alcohol consumption during pregnancy are needed, especially in all age groups.

IntroductionBirth weight is described as one of the main determinants of newborns’ chances of survival. Among the associated causes, or risk factors, the mother’s nutritional status strongly influences fetal growth and birth weight outcomes of the concept. This study evaluates the association between food deserts, small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA) and low birth weight (LBW) newborns.DesignThis is a cross-sectional population study, resulting from individual data from the Live Birth Information System (SINASC), and municipal data from mapping food deserts (CAISAN) in Brazil. The newborn’s size was defined as follows: appropriate for gestational age (between 10th and 90th percentile), SGA (th percentile), LGA (>90th percentile), and low birth weight in natura and ultra-processed foods. Logistic regression modeling was conducted to investigate the associations of interest.ResultsWe analyzed 2,632,314 live births in Brazil in 2016. Following due adjustment, it was observed that women from municipalities in which there was a limited supply of in natura foods presented a higher chance of a SGA [OR2nd tertile:1.06 (1.05-1.07)] and LBW [OR2nd tertile: 1.11(1.09-1.12)] newborn. On the other hand, municipalities in which there was a greater supply of ultra-processed foods presented higher chances for a SGA [OR3rd tertile:1.04 (1.02-1.06)] and LBW [OR2nd tertile:1.13 (1.11-1.16)] newborn. Stratification showed that Black and Mixed/Brown women were associated with SGA [OR3rd tertile: 1.09 (1.01-1.18)] and [OR3rdtertile:1.06 (1.04-1.09)], respectively, and mixed-race women were also associated with LBW [OR3rd tertile:1.17 (1.14-1.20)], while indigenous women were associated with LGA [OR3rd tertile: 1.20(1.01-1.45)].ConclusionsLiving in areas with limited access to healthy foods was associated with an increased chance of SGA and low weight newborns, especially between Black and Mixed/Brown women. Initiatives focused on minimizing the effects of these food environments, and which aim to reduce social inequalities, are urgently required in the Brazilian context.

Introdução: As doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) são consideradas a principal causa de morte no mundo, sendo considerada um problema de saúde pública, a preocupação aumenta à medida que atualmente o número de mortes em indivíduos mais jovens e em grupos vulneráveis. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a associação entre o nível de escolaridade e a morte prematura por doenças cardiovasculares em adultos. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo transversal de caráter analítico, resultante de dados provenientes do Sistema de informação de mortalidade do Brasil em 2018. Para análise estatística realizou-se uma análise bivariada pelo de teste de Qui-quadrado e posteriormente foram submetidas a uma análise multivariada mediante modelo de regressão logística para o controle de fatores de confusão e modificação, ajustando-se os valores de razão de mortalidade proporcional (RMP). Resultado: foram analisados 452.282 óbitos; 16,7% dos quais foram atribuídos a doenças cardiovascular, em relação ao nível de escolaridade, observou-se uma maior prevalência de óbito por doenças DCV (17,3%) em analfabetos ou com ensino fundamental e do sexo masculino (62,8%). Após o ajuste completo para os possíveis fatores de confusão, o analfabetismo ou possuir apenas o ensino fundamental, permaneceu fortemente associada ao risco de morrer prematuramente por DCV (RMP =1,31; 95% IC 1,27-1,24, p

Background Antibiotics are synthetic or natural substances used to treat diseases of infectious origin. When used incorrectly, they can be a factor in the development of antimicrobial resistance, increased treatment time, costs, and mortality. The present study aimed to assess the pattern inappropriate use of antibiotics and their predictors in pediatric patients admitted to the Hospital Central de Nampula, Mozambique Methods A cross-sectional, retrospective study with a quantitative approach was conducted between January and July 2019. The population consisted of children aged 0 to 10 years hospitalized in the pediatric ward I. Binary logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for inappropriate use of antibiotics with 95% CI. Results The prevalence of antibiotic use among pediatric patients was 97.5%. Of the 464 antibiotics prescribed, 39.9% were for patients suffering from gastroenteritis, 21.8% and 9.1% Affected with pneumonia and malaria. Most antibiotics were for systemic use (95.9%, 445/464). Most (36.5%) of prescriptions had errors. Duration of treatment (74.6%) and dosage (25.4%) were the most frequent errors. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that patients were prescribed with ≥ 3 antibiotics (OR = 2.920, 95% CI = 1.283–6.646, p–value = 0.011) and with a short hospitalization time (OR = 1.726, 95% CI = 1.040–2.864, p–value = 0.035) were more likely to experience some inappropriate use of antibiotics. Conclusion The study showed a higher prevalence of antibiotic use, however, a greater number of prescriptions contained errors. Errors related to dose and duration of treatment were the most common among pediatric patients. These results reveal a concern, since inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics is a major factor for the development of antibiotic resistant microorganisms. Therefore, strategies concerning the use of antibiotics in order to reduce their inappropriate and excessive use are necessary.

Background Antibiotics are synthetic or natural substances used to treat bacterial infectious diseases. When used incorrectly, they can be a factor in the development of antimicrobial resistance, increased treatment time, costs, and mortality. The present study aimed to assess the pattern of inappropriate use of antibiotics and their predictors in pediatric patients admitted to the Central Hospital in Nampula, Mozambique. Methods A cross-sectional, retrospective study with a quantitative approach was conducted between January and July 2019. The population consisted of children ages 0–10 years hospitalized in the pediatric ward I. Binary logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for the inappropriate use of antibiotics with 95% confidence interval. Results The prevalence of antibiotic use among pediatric patients was 97.5%. Of the 464 antibiotics prescribed, 39.9% were for patients suffering from gastroenteritis, 21.8% and 9.1% for those affected with pneumonia and malaria, respectively. Most antibiotics were for parenteral use (95.9%, 445/464). Many (36.5%) of the prescriptions had errors, primarily in the duration of treatment (74.0%) or dosage (24.4%). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that patients prescribed ≥ 3 antibiotics (OR = 2.83, 95% CI 1.245–6.462, p-value = 0.013) or hospitalized for a short time (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.133–2.3140, p-value = 0.015) were more likely to experience inappropriate use of antibiotics. Conclusion The study showed both a high prevalence of antibiotic use and a high error rate in prescriptions, especially among patients prescribed ≥ 3 antibiotics or hospitalized for a short time. These results are concerning, since inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics is a major factor in the development of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Therefore, policies to reduce the inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics are necessary.

Introdução: A insegurança alimentar é um problema de saúde púbica, devido aos seus efeitos na saúde de pessoas infectadas pelo HIV, apesar dos benefícios indiscutíveis do tratamento antirretroviral. Objetivo: analisar a prevalência e fatores associados à insegurança alimentar em pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 206 pacientes atendidos, em maio-julho de 2022. Foram coletados dados socioeconômicos, demográficos, de estilo de vida e de segurança alimentar. Avaliou-se a insegurança alimentar por meio da Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar, e as suas associações através do teste qui-quadrado de Pearson/teste exato de Fisher e razão de prevalência. Resultados: A prevalência de insegurança alimentar (grave) foi mais elevada em homens (78,9%), com idade de 18-30 anos (88,9%), sem nenhum nível de escolaridade (82,4%), desempregados (72,3%), casados (73,1%), em agregados de 4 a 6 membros (77,3%) e morando em condições de habitação inadequada (70,2%), com estádio II da doença (78,4%), não fumantes (71,9%), consumidores regulares de bebidas alcoólicas (73,7%) e que praticavam atividade física (76,4%). Encontrou-se associações estatísticas entre insegurança alimentar e faixa etária (p = 0,001), escolaridade (p = 0,001), situação de emprego (p < 0,011), número de pessoas por domicílio (p < 0,028), ser fumante (p < 0,013) e estádio da doença (p < 0,017). Conclusão: estes resultados, sugerem a investimentos em políticas que visam a melhoria da produção agrícola, da renda, escolaridade, acesso a emprego e redução dos níveis de pobreza são necessárias para aumentar a disponibilidade, melhoria de acesso e utilização dos alimentos.