Avaliação do Programa de Triagem Neonatal na Bahia no ano de 2003

Abstract

Objectives: describe and assess the Neonatal Screening Program of Bahia in 2003. Methods: descriptive study based on the databank of the Neonatal Screening Reference Service of Bahia in all newborns previously screened in the data collecting network of 2003. Results: the program was implemented in 94.5% of the municipalities. The monthly average of newborns assessed was of 13.991 (72.51% of the registered newborns). During data collection, 63.9% of the children were between eight days and one month old, 14.5% seven days old and 21.6% over one month old. The incidence determined was 1:22,000 for phenylketonuria, 1:4,000 for congenital hypothyroidism and 1:650 for sickle cell disease. Conclusions: the Neonatal Screening Program of Bahia in 2003 fell short to the expected coverage of 100%, failed in selecting the ideal age group for blood sampling; there were difficulties as well related to the time elapsed between blood collection and samples arrival to the Neonatal Screening Reference Service; of test delivery to the family; and of positive cases recall. Therefore, improvements are needed to expedite procedures.