title: Spatial Approach of Perinatal Mortality in São Paulo State, 2003-2012.
abstract: ObjectivesTo identifying spatial patterns in the distribution of perinatal mortality in the state of São Paulo from 2003 to 2012.MethodsAn ecological and exploratory study with data on perinatal mortality rates of every thousand live births, which were registered on the digital database containing 645 municipalities in the state of São Paulo within the periods of 2003 to 2007 and 2008 to 2012. The spatial analysis provided Moran's index (MI) and thematic maps of rates, and the Moran maps of both periods were drawn. The average rates were compared by Student'sttest. The TerraView 4.2.2 software (INPE, S. José dos Campos, Brazil) was also used.ResultsThere were 49,485 perinatal deaths during the first period, at a rate of 17.90 deaths/1,000 live births (standard deviation [SD] = 7.0; MI = 0.14;p= 0.01), and 44,582 perinatal deaths during the second period, at a rate of 16.40 deaths/1,000 live births (SD = 11.14; MI = 0.04;p= 0.03). These rates are statistically different (p< 0.01). There was a decrease in these rates in 413 municipalities when comparing the two periods. The Moran map has identified 35 municipalities that require special attention, which are located in the Eastern, Southwestern, Western and Northwestern regions of São Paulo state.ConclusionThe study provides municipal managers with subsidies so they can minimize these rates by implementing public policies and taking better care of pregnant women and newborns.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Medicine, Universidade de Taubaté, Taubaté, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Taís Siqueira
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Venâncio
authors.affiliation: Departament of Medicine, Universidade de Taubaté, Taubaté, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tássia Soldi
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Tuan
authors.affiliation: Departament of Medicine, Universidade de Taubaté, Taubaté, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Pires Cecchetti
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.affiliation: Departament of Medicine, Universidade de Taubaté, Taubaté, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando Costa
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D013997:Time Factors