{
  "abstract": "Objective: To describe maternal characteristics and neonatal outcomes of twin pregnancies in Brazil, nationwide and across macro-regions, between 2015 and 2024. Methods: This descriptive study used data from the Brazilian Live Birth Information System (SINASC). All live births from twin pregnancies with gestational age ≥ 24 weeks, maternal age 19–49 years, and complete information on birth weight and gestational age were included. Deterministic record linkage was applied to identify complete twin pairs. Maternal characteristics included age, education, prenatal care utilization, marital status, race/skin color, region of residence, and mode of delivery. Neonatal outcomes included low birth weight (<2,500 g), preterm birth (<37 weeks), and birth weight discordance (≥ 20%). Frequencies and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated by year and macro-region. Results: A total of 437,728 live births (218,864 complete twin pairs) were included. Most mothers were aged 25–34 years (53.1%), had 8–11 years of schooling (56.0%), attended seven or more prenatal visits (75.3%), and had a cesarean delivery (87.5%). Higher concentrations of twin births were observed in the Southeast and Northeast regions. Approximately 60% of newborns had low birth weight and were born preterm, and these outcomes were more frequent in the South and Southeast regions. Birth weight discordance ≥ 20% occurred in approximately 16% of twin pairs and showed limited regional variation. Conclusion: Twin pregnancies in Brazil present a substantial burden of adverse neonatal outcomes and marked regional inequalities. Strengthening specialized prenatal and perinatal care and adopting twin-specific clinical and epidemiological criteria are essential to improve risk assessment and optimize care for this high-risk population.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Graduate Program in Child and Women’s Health, National Institute of Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health Fernandes Figueira (IFF), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil",
    "Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada",
    "Department of Applied Nutrition, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil",
    "Graduate Program in Food and Nutrition Security (PPGSAN), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Thaísa Bissoli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Thais Rangel Bousquet Carrilho"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Nathalia Ferreira Antunes de Almeida"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Fernanda Rebelo"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f6sa79w0y5j0b.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0355195",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "f6sa79w0y5j0b",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0355195",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2735|Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Developmental biology/Neonates"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Developmental biology/Twins"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Physiological parameters/Body weight/Birth weight"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Neonatal care"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pediatrics/Neonatology/Neonatal care"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Birth/Labor and delivery"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Birth/Preterm birth"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Neonatal care"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Pregnancy"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Pregnancy/Pregnancy complications/Preterm birth"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Birth/Labor and delivery"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Birth/Preterm birth"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Pregnancy"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Pregnancy/Pregnancy complications/Preterm birth"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Geographical locations/South America/Brazil"
    ]
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0355195&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-31",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f6sa79w0y5j0b.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0355195",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0355195"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:pediatrics",
      "subfield": "reproductive-child"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Maternal characteristics and neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies in Brazil: A nationwide population-based study, 2015–2024",
  "title_text": "Maternal characteristics and neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies in Brazil: A nationwide population-based study, 2015–2024",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:02Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f6sa79w0y5j0b",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}