Determinants of Chronic Diseases Among Women of Reproductive Age in the Northern and Southern Regions of Brazil: A temporal Analysis Based on Vigitel Data (2013-2023)
Name: GLEICILENE LIMA ALVES PEIXOTO
Publication date: 25/02/2026
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| FRANCISCO NAILDO CARDOSO LEITÃO | Examinador Externo |
| MIRIAM CARMO RODRIGUES BARBOSA | Examinador Interno |
| ROMEU PAULO MARTIN SILVA | Presidente |
| TAMIRES DOS SANTOS VIEIRA | Coorientador |
Summary: Introduction: Changes in society’s dietary patterns indicate that individuals have
increasingly opted for fast and practical options in their daily lives. Brazilian women
represent 51.5% of the country’s population. The female population has a relevant
impact as part of the workforce in many countries. Objective: To evaluate the
temporal evolution of sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with the
development of chronic diseases among Brazilian women of reproductive age in the
Southern and Northern regions, using data from the Vigitel survey between 2013 and
2023. Method: Cross-sectional study using secondary data from the Surveillance of
Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL),
covering the years 2013 to 2023. For the selection of variables in this study, the
questionnaires contained in the manuals of each year were reviewed, and variables
present in all editions were identified. For association analyses, the Rao–Scott
chi-square test was applied. Prevalence analyses were performed using a bootstrap
method. All data analysis, from preprocessing to final visualization, was conducted
using the Python 3 programming language. Results: Over the years, the Northern
region showed a higher prevalence of diabetes in 2021 (4.52%; 95% CI:
3.13%–6.19%) and 2023 (4.11%; 95% CI: 2.86%–5.70%). For hypertension in the
Northern region throughout the entire time series, the years with the highest
prevalence were 2021 and 2023. Women without diabetes in both the Northern and
Southern regions maintained a high prevalence of low or no consumption of soft
drinks. Conclusion: An increasing trend in the prevalence of diabetes and
comorbidities (diabetes associated with hypertension) was identified among women
of reproductive age in the South and North regions of Brazil. In both regions, the
category “low or never” predominated for soft drink consumption, regardless of
diagnosis.
