CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2017; 39(05): 209-216
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1603498
Original Article
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Skin Color and Maternal Near Miss: Exploring a Demographic and Health Survey in Brazil

Cor de pele e Near Miss materno: explorando um inquérito demográfico de saúde no Brasil
Karayna Gil Fernandes
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
2   Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí, Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Maria Helena Sousa
2   Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí, Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil
,
José Guilherme Cecatti
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

16 January 2017

14 March 2017

Publication Date:
22 May 2017 (online)

Abstract

Purpose In 2013, it was estimated that 289,000 maternal deaths occurred worldwide. The maternal mortality ratio has decreased in many countries in the past decades, due to early identification and treatment of obstetric complications, despite the dissimilarities observed in diverse locations and populations. Black women, for instance, have always been more susceptible to the occurrence of maternal mortality and severe morbidity. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess skin color as a predictive factor for maternal near miss (MNM) in a sample of Brazilian women interviewed in the Brazilian National Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 2006.

Method A secondary analysis of the DHS database, a population-based cross-sectional nationally representative study was conducted. This database is of public domain. The risk of maternal complications according to ethnic group and the associated sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated. For the data analysis, the odds ratios and respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results In the sample interviewed, 59% of women were black or brown (mixed-race). Approximately 23% of women had some complication, and 2% of these women had at least one MNM pragmatic criterion. The MNM rate was 31 per 1,000 live births, and its occurrence was not statistically different among the ethnic groups. The only factors identified that were considered to be associated with the occurrence of MNM were maternal age above 40 and women not currently attending school, but only among white women.

Conclusion The 2006 DHS results did not show a higher occurrence of maternal complications, and specifically of MNM associated with black/brown skin color.

Resumo

Objetivo Estima-se que em 2013 tenham ocorrido 289.000 mortes maternas no mundo. Observou-se uma redução na razão de mortalidade materna em muitos países nas últimas décadas, e isso se deveu à identificação e tratamento precoce das complicações obstétricas, embora de forma não similar entre os diversos locais e populações. As mulheres negras, por exemplo, sempre estiveram mais sujeitas à ocorrência de mortalidade materna e de morbidade grave. Então, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a cor da pele como fator preditor de Near Miss materno (NMM) em uma amostra de mulheres brasileiras entrevistadas na Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde (PNDS) de 2006.

Método Análise secundária do banco de dados da PNDS, um estudo transversal de base populacional e com representatividade nacional, sendo este banco de dados de domínio público. Avaliou-se o risco de complicações maternas por grupo de cor da pele e as características sociodemográficas associadas. Para a análise dos dados, as razões de possibilidades e os respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% foram calculados.

Resultados Na amostra entrevistada, 59% das mulheres eram negras ou pardas. Aproximadamente 23% das mulheres apresentaram alguma complicação, e 2% delas, pelo menos um critério pragmático de NMM. A taxa de NMM foi de 31 por 1.000 nascidos vivos, e sua ocorrência não foi estatisticamente diferente entre os grupos de cor da pele. Os únicos fatores identificados como associados à ocorrência de NMM foram a idade materna acima de 40 anos e não estar atualmente estudando, mas apenas entre as mulheres brancas.

Conclusão Os resultados da PNDS 2006 não mostraram uma maior ocorrência de complicações maternas e especificamente de NMM associadas à cor da pele negra/parda.

 
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