[Avoidable causes of infant mortality in Brazil, 1997-2006: contributions to performance evaluation of the Unified National Health System].
Infant deaths were classified as avoidable, non-avoidable, and resulting from ill-defined conditions, from 1997 to 2006, using the Brazilian List of Avoidable Causes of Mortality. Non-linear regression was used to calculate trends in cause-specific infant mortality rates. There was a significant decline in both avoidable deaths and deaths from ill-defined causes (p < 0.001). Avoidable deaths decreased by 37% overall. Mortality avoidable through adequate intrapartum care and adequate neonatal care decreased by 27.7% and 42.5%, respectively, while mortality avoidable through adequate prenatal care increased by 28.3%. In conclusion, health services contributed to the reduction in infant mortality. The decrease in ill-defined causes of death indicates expanded access to health services. The increase in access to intrapartum and neonatal care contributed to the reduction in infant deaths. The increase in mortality avoidable through adequate prenatal care indicates the need for improvement in prenatal care.
Malta
Deborah Carvalho
DC
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil. dcmalta@uol.com.br
Duarte
Elisabeth Carmen
EC
Escalante
Juan José Cortez
JJ
Almeida
Márcia Furquim de
MF
Sardinha
Luciana M Vasconcelos
LM
Macário
Eduardo Marques
EM
Monteiro
Rosane Aparecida
RA
Morais Neto
Otaliba Libânio de
OL
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012044:Regression Analysis