Epidemiology and Health

Cohort Profile

The 2019 Rio Grande birth cohort: profile of a Brazilian 5-year study on mental health conditions: Rafaela Costa Martins, Francine dos Santos Costa, Cauane Blumenberg, Thais Martins-Silva, Romina Buffarini, Juraci Almeida Cesar, Christian Loret de Mola; Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025039. Published online July 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025039

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Abstract

We established the 2019 Rio Grande birth cohort to investigate the life course epidemiology of mental health and its intergenerational transmission. In 2019, we systematically identified all hospital births in the city of Rio Grande, located in Southern Brazil. Mothers who delivered a singleton liveborn child were administered a standardized, face-to-face questionnaire. In 2020, we conducted 2 follow-up assessments (WebCOVID-19 1 and 2), a third in 2021-22 (WebCOVID-19-3), and a fourth in 2023-24 (WebPOST-COVID). Across these follow-ups, we collected data on socio-demographic, environmental, and behavioral factors pertaining to both mother and child, as well as maternal mental health. Child mental health and development were specifically evaluated during the fourth follow-up. At baseline, 2,051 mothers were interviewed. Response rates for the online follow-ups were 54.1%, 51.1%, 48.7%, and 34.6%, respectively. In WebCOVID-19-3, the highest prevalence rates for depression (34.7%) and anxiety (33.1%) were observed. This cohort provides novel insights into maternal mental health, child development, and post-coronavirus disease 2019 behaviors, emphasizing culturally specific risk factors. Our findings are based on both published and ongoing studies. Data may be requested upon reasonable request.

Summary

Key Message
The 2019 Rio Grande Birth Cohort is a prospective study that has been following over 2,000 mothers and their children since 2019. It is designed specifically to understand the intergenerational transmission of mental health problems. The cohort's unique design combines detailed face-to-face questionnaires at baseline with remote, web-based follow-ups, and serves as a comprehensive overview of the cohort's methodology, data collection instruments, and study design, demonstrating its potential to generate valuable insights into maternal and child health.

Citations

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Changes in habits among mothers during the period of social isolation due to COVID-19 in the municipality of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Jefferson Sales da Silva, Pâmela Moraes Volz, Rafaela Costa Martins, Francine dos Santos Costa, Cauane Blumenberg, Thais Martins Silva, Romina Buffarini, Lorena Goulart Vieira, Patricia Cota Lima, Zulema Mamani Condori, Caroline Lisset Dominguez Herido, C
Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

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