Influence of social, demographic, and clinical factors in live births with spinal dysraphism in Brazil: an ecological study of 21 years

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to verify possible associations between sociodemographic and clinical factors in live births with spinal dysraphism.

Methods: An analytical (descriptive and inferential) and ecological study was carried out based on secondary data of 11,308 live births with spinal dysraphism registered in the Live Birth Information System (SINASC) in Brazil from 1999 to 2019. Demographic factors analyzed were age, education, mothers' marital status and geographic region. The clinical factors analyzed were duration, gestation period, birthweight, and number of prenatal visits performed by women who underwent medical follow-up.

Results: There was an increase in the number of cases of spinal dysraphism in recent years in Brazil with an annual percentage variation of 3.52%. However, the period from 2005 to 2009 showed a reduction in live births with spinal dysraphism. The regions with the highest incidence were the South and Southeast. The risk increased in mothers born after 1980, older than 30 years and with a high level of education. The risk was increased in live births of whites and blacks, born from double pregnancy and with body weight less than 3000 g. The absence of prenatal care was associated with a higher incidence.

Conclusion: Sociodemographic and clinical factors have specific characteristics that can predict spinal dysraphism in newborns in Brazil.

Keywords: Brazil; Congenital abnormalities; Epidemiology; Live births.