Desastres hidrológicos e efeitos na saúde pré e neonatal

Abstract

This research aims to measure the effects of hydrological disasters on the prenatal and neonatal health indicators of newborns in Brazil. To do this, we collected monthly data on the number of prenatal consultations, Apgar 1 and Apgar 5 scores, birth weight data, gestational length and the occurrence of hydrological disasters between 2000 and 2020 in Brazilian municipalities. In the first stage, we investigated the impact of hydrological disasters on the variables of interest mentioned above, in the period of eight months prior to delivery until the birth of the newborn. In the second stage of the study, we used data from the SUS Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS) to assess the impact of hydrological disasters on the health of hospitalized pregnant women through diagnoses of diseases related to exposure to contaminated water, used in this study as a channel test between the relationship between maternal health and the newborn. The results indicate that the North, Midwest and Southeast macro-regions were the most affected by natural disasters in terms of prenatal and neonatal health indicators, with high percentages of Low Apgar1 and Low Apgar5. At a national level, there was a significant reduction in the proportion of prenatal consultations, highlighting the impact of these events on maternal and child health. In addition, the increase in diseases such as leptospirosis, dengue and acute diarrhea, associated with disasters, has been shown to be correlated with maternal and neonatal morbidity. The study has limitations, such as the reliance on secondary data related to morbidities for a large part of the municipalities, making it impossible to carry out a robust analysis, and the complexity of socio-economic factors that have not been fully explored. In terms of public policy, the results reinforce the need to strengthen the resilience of the health system, expand access to quality prenatal care and implement intersectoral actions to reduce the vulnerability of affected populations.