[Maternal and child health indicators in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, 2001: an analysis of intra-urban differences].
Spatial analysis of health indicators is as an important methodology for detection of intra-urban differences. This study aimed to examine the spatial distribution of all live births in Belo Horizonte, analyzing the presence of spatial clusters of health indicators for newborns and their mothers, using data from the Information System on Live Births. For each area covered by a Primary Health Care Unit, we calculated the indicators using empirical Bayesian methods. For spatial analysis, the indicators obtained from the global Moran (I) index and Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) were used. Analysis using LISA showed the presence of relevant spatial clusters for adolescent mothers and those with low schooling, stillbirths in previous pregnancies, cesarean sections, and low attendance at prenatal care, especially in areas with low socio-demographic characteristics. The methodology adopted was configured as a key instrument for detecting risk areas where clustering occurs. The method can easily be incorporated into health surveillance systems as a mechanism for controlling events related to births in a given area.
Friche
Amélia Augusta de Lima
AA
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil. gutafriche@uol.com.br
Caiaffa
Waleska Teixeira
WT
César
Cibele Comini
CC
Goulart
Lúcia Maria de Figueiredo
LM
Almeida
Maria Cristina de Mattos
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001719:Birth Certificates; D001938:Brazil; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population