Epidemiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
29
Scopus Publications
340
Scholar Citations
8
Scholar h-index
8
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Food Poverty and Early Childhood Development Across Food Insecurity Levels in Brazil Micaela Rabelo Quadra, Fernanda Oliveira Meller, Antônio Augusto Schäfer, Leonardo Pozza Santos, André Demboski Dalpont, et al. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2026 This cross‐sectional study investigated associations between food insecurity, food poverty, and early childhood development (ECD) among Brazilian children under 5 years of age, and explored whether the association between food poverty and ECD varied across food insecurity levels. Data were drawn from 14,062 participants from the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition. ECD was assessed using milestone scores from the Survey of Well‐Being of Young Children—Brazilian Version (SWYC‐BR). Exposures included food insecurity levels (secure, mild, or moderate/severe) and food poverty (lack of minimum dietary diversity). Crude and adjusted linear regression models estimated associations and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with stratified and interaction analyses by food insecurity levels. The mean SWYC‐BR score was 14.14; 46.2% of children experienced moderate food poverty, 16.0% severe food poverty, 38.0% mild food insecurity, and 10.2% moderate or severe food insecurity. Mild food insecurity (adjusted β = −0.41; 95% CI: −0.74, − 0.09) and severe food poverty (adjusted β = −0.91; 95% CI: −1.37, − 0.44) were associated with lower SWYC‐BR scores. In stratified analyses, children from food‐secure (fully adjusted β = −0.87; 95% CI: −1.50, − 0.24) and mildly food‐insecure (fully adjusted β = −1.17; 95% CI: −1.93, − 0.41) households experiencing severe food poverty had lower SWYC‐BR scores. Findings indicate that food poverty is associated with ECD in Brazil and this association varies across food insecurity levels, underscoring the need for public health policies that address both nutritional quality and household food security among vulnerable populations.
Influence of the patient’s skin color on the choice of dental treatment for caries Luiz Felipe Búrigo Furlaneto, Fernanda Oliveira Meller, Micaela Rabelo Quadra, Antônio Augusto Schäfer Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences, 2025 Aim: The aim was to evaluate the influence of the patient’s skin color on the choice of dental treatment by academics from a university in the south of the state of Santa Catarina (SC). Methods: This is a randomized trial carried out with undergraduate students in dentistry at the University of Criciúma, Santa Catarina. All academics regularly enrolled in the 5th to 10th phases of the dentistry course were invited to participate. Half of the students, randomly, received the clinical case with white skin color, and the other half, the same clinical case but with black skin color. After the distribution of the cases, the participants self-administered a questionnaire with sociodemographic aspects and with the options for choosing treatment for the caries lesion. Crude and adjusted analyses of the association between the patient’s skin color and the choice of treatment were performed through multinomial logistic regression, with a significance level of 5%. Results: In total, 159 academics were studied. When using direct restoration with composite resin as a reference, patients with black skin color were 56% less likely to receive indirect restoration with composite resin (Onlay) when compared to white skin color (RRR=0.44; 95%CI 0.21-0.93; p=0.032). Conclusions: This alarming result showed that the patient’s skin color influenced the caries treatment chosen by dental students, which can result in black patients not receiving better treatment.
Chrononutrition, diet quality and perceived stress: results from two population-based studies in Brazil Micaela Rabelo Quadra, Antônio Augusto Schäfer, Leonardo Pozza Santos, Luana Meller Manosso, Tamara Justin da Silva, et al. Ciencia E Saude Coletiva, 2025 Chrononutrition and diet quality appear to influence stress, however, evidence on this relationship needs to be better elucidated. We aim to assess the association between chrononutrition, diet quality, and perceived stress in adults from Southern Brazil. Population-based cross-sectional study conducted in two Brazilian cities, with individuals aged ≥18 years. Chrononutrition and diet quality were the exposure, and perceived stress was the outcome. To assess the associations, Poisson regression was used to calculate crude and adjusted prevalence ratio. 2,170 individuals were analyzed: 12.3% did not have breakfast, 27.5% had less than four meals per day, 30.4% presented poor diet quality, 14% referred irregular consumption of healthy foods, and 43.2% had regular consumption of unhealthy foods. Perceived stress was reported by 38.2% of the sample. Individuals who ate less than four meals per day, with poor diet quality, with regular consumption of unhealthy foods, and with irregular consumption of healthy foods were more likely to present perceived stress. These results may contribute to the development of joint actions on nutrition and mental health.
Home office is associated with weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic: Brazilian population-based studies Fernanda de Oliveira Meller, Antônio Augusto Schäfer, Bianca Languer Vargas, Vanise dos Santos Ferreira Viero, Elizabet Saes-Silva, et al. Ciencia E Saude Coletiva, 2025 The COVID-19 pandemic caused changes in life, affecting habits and behaviors, and one of its consequences is an increase in weight. We aimed to evaluate the association between remote work and weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic in two cities in southern Brazil. A population-based cross-sectional study carried out in the southern region of Brazil. Data were collected face-to-face, in households selected by census sampling. The outcome was weight gain, and the exposure was remote working. To verify this association, Poisson Regression was used to calculate the crude and adjusted prevalence ratio and its 95% confidence intervals, using 5% significance level. In total, 2,152 individuals were interviewed. The prevalence of weight gain during the pandemic was 38.4% (95%CI 36.1-40.7), being significantly higher in those who worked remotely (47.0% vs 37.7, p=0.02). Those individuals who worked remotely were 23% more likely to gain weight during the pandemic compared to those who did not work remotely (PR: 1.23; 95%CI 1.02-1.49). Health and education services may be encouraged to implement educational actions at the collective level, aimed at enlightening the population and preventing weight gain in periods of confinement.
Insufficient physical activity and its association with risk behaviors and health outcomes in Brazil Antônio Augusto Schäfer, Samuel de Carvalho Dumith, Micaela Rabelo Quadra, Janis Elíbio, Fernanda Daminelli Eugênio, et al. Medicina Brazil, 2025 Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la asociación entre la actividad física insuficiente y los resultados de salud de adultos y ancianos durante la pandemia de Covid-19. Método: Se trata de un estudio poblacional transversal realizado en dos municipios del sur de Brasil entre octubre de 2020 y enero de 2021. Se seleccionaron aleatoriamente los sectores censales y luego los hogares. Se invitó a participar a todas las personas mayores de 18 años. Se utilizó la versión larga del cuestionario IPAQ para evaluar la actividad física insuficiente. También se estudiaron las siguientes variables: peor calidad del sueño, peor calidad de la dieta, peor percepción de la salud, tabaquismo, abuso de alcohol, síntomas depresivos, estrés, tristeza e ideación suicida. Resultados: Se estudiaron 2.170 personas y la prevalencia de actividad física insuficiente fue del 75,3%. En el análisis crudo, excepto el estrés, todas las variables se asociaron con una actividad física insuficiente. Después del ajuste por posibles factores de confusión, sólo las variables consumo abusivo de alcohol e ideación suicida perdieron la asociación. Los individuos expuestos a una actividad física insuficiente presentaron mayor prevalencia de peor calidad de sueño y alimentación, peor percepción de salud, tabaquismo, síntomas depresivos y sentimientos de tristeza. Conclusión: Se necesitan más iniciativas de salud y políticas públicas dirigidas a promover la actividad física.
Food Poverty and Early Childhood Development Across Food Insecurity Levels in Brazil MR Quadra, FO Meller, AA Schäfer, LP Santos, AD Dalpont, ... Maternal & child nutrition 22 (3), e70198 , 2026 2026
Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a socioeconomic analysis and its relationship with self-care E Jacob-Burin, LM Marins, MR Quadra, EL Streck Medicina (Ribeirão Preto) 58 (4) , 2025 2025
Blood lipids and cognitive function in individuals with diabetes mellitus: a sex-stratified analysis PRAA Bernardes, MR Quadra, AA Schäfer, FO Meller, ACD Borges, ... Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders 24 (2), 252 , 2025 2025
Acesso de pessoas com deficiência a um Centro Especializado em Reabilitação no sul do Brasil BM Bom, AA Schäfer, L Tuon, MR Quadra, L Burato, MVR Teixeira, ... Inova Saúde 15 (5), 163-177 , 2025 2025
Chrononutrition and sleep patterns in individuals with diabetes mellitus: Assessing misalignments and social jetlag MR Quadra, FO Meller, AA Schäfer, T Dimer Hendler, E Luiz Streck Chronobiology International 42 (10), 1427-1436 , 2025 2025
Glycaemic profile and cognitive impairment in individuals with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study on HbA1c, random blood glucose, and serum insulin levels LQ Oliveira, MR Quadra, AA Schäfer, FO Meller, EBC Júnior, EL Streck Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 1-10 , 2025 2025
Relationship between body fat and cognitive function in individuals with diabetes mellitus MR Quadra, AA Schäfer, FO Meller, CD Martins, EL Streck Journal of Diabetes and its Complications 39 (9), 109105 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Fatores de risco modificáveis associados às doenças crônicas em adultos residentes nas capitais brasileiras e no Distrito Federal: Vigitel, 2019 MR Quadra, AA Schäfer, LP Santos, FO Meller Cadernos Saúde Coletiva 33 (2), e33020163 , 2025 2025
Home office is associated with weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic: Brazilian population-based studies FO Meller, AA Schäfer, BL Vargas, VSF Viero, E Saes-Silva, MR Quadra, ... Ciência & Saúde Coletiva 30, e08032023 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Atividade física insuficiente e sua associação com comportamentos de risco e desfechos de saúde no Brasil AA Schäfer, S de Carvalho Dumith, MR Quadra, J Elíbio, FD Eugênio, ... Medicina (Ribeirão Preto) 58 (3) , 2025 2025
Modifiable risk factors associated with chronic diseases in adults residing in Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District: Vigitel 2019 MR Quadra, AA Schäfer, LP Santos, FO Meller Cadernos Saúde Coletiva 33, e33020163 , 2025 2025
Crononutrición, calidad de la dieta y estrés percibido: resultados de dos estudios poblacionales en Brasil MR Quadra, AA Schäfer, LP Santos, LM Manosso, TJ Silva, EB Maciel, ... Ciência & Saúde Coletiva 30, e15782023 , 2025 2025
Chrononutrition, diet quality and perceived stress: results from two population-based studies in Brazil MR Quadra, AA Schäfer, LP Santos, LM Manosso, TJ Silva, EB Maciel, ... Ciência & Saúde Coletiva 30 (4), e15782023 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Influence of the patient’s skin color on the choice of dental treatment for caries LFB Furlaneto, FO Meller, MR Quadra, AA Schäfer Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences 24, e254906 , 2025 2025
Home office está asociado con el aumento de peso durante la pandemia de COVID-19: estudios poblacionales brasileños FO Meller, AA Schäfer, BL Vargas, VSF Viero, E Saes-Silva, MR Quadra, ... Ciência & Saúde Coletiva 30, e08032023 , 2025 2025
Home office está associado ao ganho de peso durante a pandemia de COVID-19: estudos brasileiros de base populacional FO Meller, AA Schäfer, BL Vargas, VSF Viero, E Saes-Silva, MR Quadra, ... Ciência & Saúde Coletiva 30, e08032023 , 2025 2025
Comportamento sedentário e o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados de adolescentes do sul do Brasil L Stangherlin, AA Schäfer, MR Quadra, F de Oliveira Meller Inova Saúde 15 (2), 1-11 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Uso irregular de protetor solar e fatores associados em adultos e idosos: estudo de base populacional no Sul do Brasil SE Sasso, F de Oliveira Meller, MR Quadra, SG Petry, AA Schäfer Medicina (Ribeirão Preto) 57 (2) , 2024 2024
Home office e desfechos na saúde de adultos do Sul do Brasil FO Meller, S de Carvalho Dumith, MR Quadra, FD Eugenio, EB Maciel, ... ABCS Health Sciences 49, e024228-e024228 , 2024 2024
Demanda por serviços de saúde durante a pandemia de Covid-19: estudos de base populacional AA Schäfer, MR Quadra, J Soratto, FD Eugênio, JVS Mendes, FO Meller Medicina (Ribeirão Preto) 57 (1) , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Alcohol consumption and smoking during Covid-19 pandemic: association with sociodemographic, behavioral, and mental health characteristics AA Schäfer, LP Santos, MR Quadra, SC Dumith, FO Meller Journal of Community Health 47 (4), 588-597 , 2022 2022 Citations: 69
Desigualdades nos comportamentos de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis: Vigitel, 2019 FO Meller, LP Santos, VIA Miranda, CD Tomasi, J Soratto, MR Quadra, ... Cadernos De saúde pública 38, e00273520 , 2022 2022 Citations: 36
Fear of Covid-19 and health-related outcomes: results from two Brazilian population-based studies FO Meller, AA Schäfer, MR Quadra, LM Demenech, S dos Santos Paludo, ... Psychiatry Research 313, 114596 , 2022 2022 Citations: 32
Desigualdades regionais e sociais na realização de mamografia e exame citopatológico nas capitais brasileiras em 2019: estudo transversal AA Schäfer, LP Santos, VIA Miranda, CD Tomasi, J Soratto, MR Quadra, ... Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde 30, e2021172 , 2021 2021 Citations: 28
Relationship between sleep duration and quality and mental health before and during COVID-19 pandemic: Results of population-based studies in Brazil AA Schäfer, LP Santos, LM Manosso, MR Quadra, FO Meller Journal of Psychosomatic Research 158, 110910 , 2022 2022 Citations: 22
Double burden of malnutrition and inequalities in the nutritional status of adults: a population-based study in Brazil, 2019 FO Meller, AA Schäfer, LP Santos, MR Quadra, VIA Miranda International Journal of Public Health 66, 609179 , 2021 2021 Citations: 22
Qualidade de vida e fatores associados em trabalhadores de uma Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina F de Oliveira Meller, AJ Grande, MR Quadra, R Doyenart, AA Schäfer Cadernos saúde coletiva 28, 87-97 , 2020 2020 Citations: 21
Influência do sono e da crononutrição na hipertensão e diabetes: um estudo de base populacional MR Quadra, LP Santos, AA Schäfer, FO Meller Cadernos de Saúde Pública 38, e00291021 , 2022 2022 Citations: 16
Consumption of ultra-processed foods and mental health of pregnant women from the South of Brazil FO Meller, C dos Santos Costa, MR Quadra, VIA Miranda, FD Eugênio, ... British Journal of Nutrition 132 (1), 107-114 , 2024 2024 Citations: 8
Regional and social inequalities in mammography and Papanicolaou tests in Brazilian state capitals in 2019: a cross-sectional study AA Schäfer, LP Santos, VIA Miranda, CD Tomasi, J Soratto, MR Quadra, ... Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde 30, e2021172 , 2021 2021 Citations: 8
Household food insecurity before and during COVID-19 pandemic and its association with perceived stress: population-based studies FO Meller, LP Santos, BL Vargas, MR Quadra, CD Martins, AA Schäfer Cadernos de Saúde Pública 39, e00285121 , 2023 2023 Citations: 7
Inequalities in risk behaviors for chronic noncommunicable diseases: Vigitel, 2019 FO Meller, LP Santos, VIA Miranda, CD Tomasi, J Soratto, MR Quadra, ... Cadernos de Saúde Pública 38, e00273520 , 2022 2022 Citations: 7
Consumo e comportamento alimentar de trabalhadores de uma universidade: Um estudo transversal AA Schäfer, AJ Grande, MR Quadra, FO Meller DEMETRA: Alimentação, Nutrição & Saúde 14, e38102-e38102 , 2019 2019 Citations: 7
Association between job lost and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of food insecurity as mediator of this relationship FO Meller, MR Quadra, LP Santos, SC Dumith, FD Eugenio, TJ Silva, ... Cadernos de Saúde Pública 40, e00110523 , 2024 2024 Citations: 6
Influence of sleep and chrononutrition on hypertension and diabetes: a population-based study MR Quadra, LP Santos, AA Schäfer, FO Meller Cadernos de Saúde Pública 38, e00291021 , 2022 2022 Citations: 6
Inequalities in the use of health services in a municipality in Southern Brazil in 2019: a cross-sectional study MR Quadra, AA Shäfer, FO Meller Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde 32, e2022437 , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
Effect of lingual frenotomy on the breastfeeding improvement CF Possamai, AA Schäfer, MR Quadra, CD Martins, FO Meller Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences 22, e238415 , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
Consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados por trabalhadores: um estudo transversal F de Oliveira Meller, AJ Grande, MR Quadra, AA Schäfer Revista Baiana de Saúde Pública 44 (1), 68-80 , 2020 2020 Citations: 5
Fatores associados à não adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso para hipertensão arterial sistêmica e diabetes mellitus entre adultos brasileiros: resultados do VIGITEL 2019. IT Moreira, VG Raichle, AA Schäfer, FO Meller, MR Quadra Revista de Atencao Primaria a Saude 26 , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
Overweight and its associated factors among employees of a university from the state of Santa Catarina F de Oliveira Meller, AJ Grande, MR Quadra, AA Schäfer Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Trabalho 18 (2), 158 , 2020 2020 Citations: 3
