Fatores associados à mortalidade neonatal precoce: análise de situação no nível local

Abstract

This study examined the factors that have exerted greater influence in the maintenance of Early Neonatal Infant Mortality, between the years of 2000 and 2005, in the Liberdade Health District. Data were collected from birth and death records and validated through linkage; for the identification of factors associated with mortality, univariate and bivariate analysis were taken. The early neonatal mortality rate was 24.22 deaths/1,000 live births. Bivariate analysis showed that the effects of variables - low education of the mother; gestational age up to 36 weeks; less than six prenatal visits; low birth weight; multiple pregnancy and vaginal delivery - were significant to mortality. Prenatal and post-natal care must be organized in order to prevent some of these factors and to reduce inequities due to social differences.