title: Fuzzy linguistic model for evaluating the risk of neonatal death.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce a fuzzy linguistic model for evaluating the risk of neonatal death.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is based on the fuzziness of the variables newborn birth weight and gestational age at delivery. The inference used was Mamdani's method. Neonatologists were interviewed to estimate the risk of neonatal death under certain conditions and to allow comparing their opinions and the model values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results were compared with experts' opinions and the Fuzzy model was able to capture the expert knowledge with a strong correlation (r=0.96).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The linguistic model was able to estimate the risk of neonatal death when compared to experts' performance.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Taubaté, Taubaté, SP, Brasil. lfcnascimento@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando C
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Neli Regina S
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Ortega
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment