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Em 2023, Portugal viu menos nascimentos nos primeiros nove meses comparado a 2022. No Programa Nacional de Rastreio Neonatal , 63.237 bebês foram testados, menos do que no ano anterior. Lisboa, Porto, Setúbal e Braga tiveram mais testes. O "teste do pezinho" ajuda a detectar doenças raras em recém-nascidos , sendo essencial para a saúde infantil.

 

Translation

In 2023, Portugal experienced fewer births in the first nine months compared to 2022. In the National Newborn Screening Programme, 63,237 babies were tested, fewer than in the previous year. Lisbon, Porto, Setúbal, and Braga conducted the most tests. The "heel prick test" helps detect rare diseases in newborns and is essential for child health.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: What is the purpose of the 'teste do pezinho' in Portugal?

The 'teste do pezinho' helps to detect rare diseases in newborns.

Question 2: Which cities in Portugal had more newborn tests in 2023?

Lisboa, Porto, Setúbal, and Braga had more newborn tests.

Exercise: Vocabulary

nascimento(m.) - birth

rastreio(m.) - screening

neonatal - neonatal

detectar - detect

doença(f.) - disease

recém-nascido(m.) - newborn

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▌17/10/2024

According to recent data from the Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Portugal has experienced a decline in the number of newborns during the first nine months of 2023, marking a downward shift in the birth rate compared to the same period in 2022. This year, the National Neonatal Screening Programme (PNRN) tested 63,237 newborns, which is 430 fewer than the 63,667 tested in the corresponding period last year.

The programme's data highlights that the months with the highest number of screenings were January, July, and August, while the districts with the most newborns tested included Lisbon, Porto, Setúbal, and Braga. Meanwhile, areas such as Beja, Bragança, Guarda, and Vila Real recorded the lowest numbers, each having fewer than a hundred newborns screened monthly.

This year's figures mark a reversal from the previous upward trend in birth numbers seen from 2021 to 2023. After dropping to a record low of 79,217 in 2021, the number of births in Portugal increased to 83,436 in 2022 and reached 85,764 in 2023. This recent decline suggests a changing demographic pattern that may merit further investigation.

Portugal Sees Decrease in Newborn Numbers in 2023 Portugal Sees Decrease in Newborn Numbers in 2023 (Illustration)

The "teste do pezinho" or heel prick test, used within the PNRN, continues to play a critical role in early diagnosis of rare diseases in infants. In 2023, out of the 85,764 babies examined, 150 cases of rare diseases were detected. These included hereditary metabolic disorders, congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and spinal muscular atrophy.

Since its inception in 1979, the PNRN has been instrumental in identifying rare conditions in newborns, having screened over 4.2 million babies. Through this programme, early diagnoses have enabled immediate treatment, preventing severe consequences such as intellectual disability and other irreversible conditions.

The screening test is widely adopted across Portugal, with a current coverage rate of 99.5%. Newborns typically undergo the test by the third day after birth, which involves collecting blood from the child's heel. Early intervention following these screenings underscores the programme's effectiveness in child health management.

 

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