title: [Perinatal mortality due to congenital syphilis: a quality-of-care indicator for women's and children's healthcare].
abstract: Syphilis is a persistent cause of perinatal mortality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where this study was performed using data from the mortality data system and investigational reports for fetal and neonatal deaths, mandatory in municipal maternity hospitals. From 1996 to 1998, 13.1% of fetal deaths and 6.5% of neonatal deaths in municipal maternity hospitals were due to congenital syphilis. From 1999 to 2002, the proportions were 16.2% and 7.9%, respectively. For the city of Rio de Janeiro as a whole from 1999 and 2002, the proportions were 5.4% of fetal deaths and 2.2% of neonatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate due to congenital syphilis remains stable in Rio de Janeiro, despite efforts initiated with congenital syphilis elimination campaigns in 1999 and 2000. We propose that the perinatal mortality rate due to congenital syphilis be used as an impact indicator for activities to control and eliminate congenital syphilis, based on the investigational reports for fetal and neonatal deaths. Such reports could be extended to the surveillance of other avoidable perinatal disease outcomes.
authors: valeria@alternex.com.br
authors: Valéria
authors: V
authors: Saraceni
authors: Maria Helena Freitas da Silva
authors: MH
authors: Guimarães
authors: Mariza Miranda
authors: MM
authors: Theme Filha
authors: Maria do Carmo
authors: Mdo C
authors: Leal
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000401:mortality*