title: Perinatal mortality and socio-spatial inequalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the social inequalities in the distribution of perinatal mortality in Belo Horizonte.
  
  
  METHODS
  The perinatal deaths of residents in Belo Horizonte in the period 2003 to 2007 were studied on the basis of the Information Systems on Mortality and Newborns. The space analysis and the Health Vulnerability Index were used to identify existing inequalities in the sanitary districts regarding coverage and risk, determined by the Odds Ratio and a value p<0.05. The multivariate analysis was used to describe a model for perinatal mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a proved variation in the numbers of perinatal mortality per one thousand total births in the sanitary districts (12.5 to 19.4), coverage areas (5.3 to 49.4) and areas of risk (13.2 to 20.7). The mortality rate diminished as the maternal schooling increased. The death rates deriving from asphyxia/hypoxia and non-specified fetal death grew with the increase of risk in the area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was verified that the perinatal deaths are distributed in a differentiated form in relation to the space and the social vulnerabilities. The confrontation of this complex problem requires the establishment of intersecting partnerships.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo HorizonteMG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eunice Francisca
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Edna Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.forename: Maria Cristina de Mattos
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Francisco Carlos Félix
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lana
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D054238:Perinatal Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors