Análise de tendências das taxas de mortalidade infantil e de seus fatores de risco na cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, no período de 1996 a 2008

Infant mortality in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo: an ecological study

Objective

To determine the impact of risk factors on infant mortality in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo according to maternal and neonate characteristics, as well as mode of delivery.

Methods

An ecological, quantitative study based on secondary data retrieved from infant mortality and live birth data systems. Data from 39 municipalities located in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo were analyzed. Newborn and maternal variables were extracted from the Information Technology Department of the Unified Health System. Absolute and relative frequencies were presented, as well as linear regression and Pearson´s correlation coefficient.

Results

The following maternal profile prevailed from 2006 to 2016: 8 to 11 years of education (β=73.58; p=0.023), age between 30 and 34 years (β=19.04; p=0.015) and delivery by cesarean section (β=39.59; p=0.009) after full-term pregnancy (β=-14.20; p=0.324). Mortality rates decreased in neonates compared to other age groups (β=-25.30; p<0.001). Infant mortality rates tended to be higher among women experiencing pre-term (r=0.86; p<0.001) or post-term (r=0.95; p<0.001) gestation.

Conclusion

Maternal age and level of education increased among women giving birth in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo from 2006 to 2016. These were relevant factors for infant mortality rate reduction.

The influence of the municipal human development index and maternal education on infant mortality: an investigation in a retrospective cohort study in the extreme south of Brazil

Background

Infant mortality is considered an important and sensitive health indicator in several countries, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. Most of the factors influencing infant mortality are interrelated and are the result of social issues. Therefore, this study performed an investigation of the influence of the MHDI and maternal education on infant mortality in a capital in the extreme south of Brazil.

Methods

It is a retrospective cohort study with data on births and deaths in the first year of life for the period of 2000–2017. The association between the independent variables and the outcome was done by bivariate analysis through simple Poisson regression. The variables that can potentially be considered confounding factors were used in a multiple Poisson regression for robust variances - adjusted model.

Results

The study included 317,545 children, of whom 3107 died. The medium MHDI showed associated with infant death in the first year of life. Maternal education, individually and jointly analyzed with the MHDI, showed association with the outcome of infant death in the first year of life, particularly for children of mothers with lower maternal education (p < 0.001). In relation to other related factors, maternal age; number of Prenatal Care Consultations; gestational age, weight, gender and Apgar Index (5th minute) of the newborn showed association with IM (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The HDI is considered a good predictor of infant mortality by some authors and the analyzes of the present study also confirm an association of the medium MHDI and its low MHDIE component with infant mortality. In addition, it was maternal education with less than 8 years of study that that demonstrated a higher risk of death, revealing itself to be a social determinant with a relevant impact on infant mortality. Thus, it is possible to conclude that maternal education is available information, and it is superior to the MHDI to assess the infant mortality outcome.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10226-9.

Inequalities in birth weight and maternal education: a time-series study from 1996 to 2013 in Brazil

Maternal education represents one of the most important social determinants of inequality in birth weight (BW) in developing countries. The present study sought to investigate secular trends in health inequality considering the difference in mean BW between extremes of maternal educational attainment in Brazil. Using a time-series design, data from 6,452,551 live births which occurred in all Brazilian state capitals from 1996 to 2013 were obtained from the Information System on Live Births. Secular trends of the difference in mean birth weight between low (<8 years of schooling) and high (≥12 years of schooling) educational attainment were analyzed. The main finding was that differences in mean birth weight between the two extremes of maternal educational attainment decreased over time. There was a significant decrease in mean BW in neonates born to mothers with higher educational attainment, and a slight increase in those born to mothers with lower educational attainment. One of the key factors involved in decreasing inequality was an increase in the number of antenatal visits. In view of these results, we conclude, that despite a slight increase of mean birth weight among mothers with low education, the reduction of inequality in pregnancy outcomes over time in Brazil is attributable to a worsening scenario for mothers who are better off rather than to improvements for the most vulnerable group of mothers.

Infant mortality trend in the city of Rio Branco, AC, 1999 to 2015

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the trend of infant mortality in Rio Branco, state of Acre, from 1999 to 2015.

METHODS

An ecological observational study of a time series, in which data from deaths from the Information System on Mortality and Births of the Information System on Live Births were used. The annual percentage change was estimated using the Joinpoint software.

RESULTS

The infant mortality rate decreased from 26.99 in 1999 to 14.50 in 2015 per 1,000 live births, with an annual percentage change of -4.37 (95%CI -5.4– -3.4). When stratified by age components, the neonatal period presented an annual percentage change of -4.73 (95%CI -5.7– -3.7), and the post-neonatal period was -3.7 (95%CI -5.4– -2.0). Avoidability, avoidable causes and poorly defined causes showed a downward trend throughout the period and causes not clearly preventable showed an upward trend until 2008. The group of causes that contributed most to the infant deaths during the period studied was perinatal diseases, followed by malformations, infectious and parasitic diseases, and respiratory diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the decreasing trend in infant mortality rates in the capital compared to developed countries, it is relatively high.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale of maternal confidence assessment for use in Brazil

OBJECTIVES

To transculturally adapt and validate the Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale to the Brazilian Portuguese language and culture and verify the combination of the results with the maternal sociodemographic characteristics.

METHODOLOGY

This is a validation and transcultural adaptation nestled in a longitudinal and observational study in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, assessing mother-infant pairs from different gestational and perinatal environments. The original authors authorized the translation into Brazilian Portuguese, unified version creation, back-translation, analysis by specialists, final version implementation, and acceptance. Cronbach's alpha analysis was performed. The Kruskal-Wallis test with post-hoc Dunn's test was used to compare the study groups. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, obtained through a questionnaire in the first 24-48h of the newborns' life, were associated with maternal results by the Brazilian version of the scale, using Spearman's correlation and Mann-Whitney's test.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 251 postpartum women, with the confidence maternal questionnaire being applied at 15 days postpartum. The median score of the mothers' confidence was 40.00 (37.00-43.00). The protocol obtained a Cronbach's alpha of 0.717. There were significant weak positive correlations between maternal confidence and age (p=0.013, r=0.157) and between maternal confidence and schooling (p=0.048, r=0.125). Additionally, a significant association was observed between maternal confidence and parity (p=0.030).

CONCLUSION

The transcultural adaptation and validation of the confidence maternal questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese language and culture showed good reliability for this sample. The results of its use demonstrated that maternal confidence was associated with schooling, age and parity.

[Assessment of the incompleteness of the maternal schooling variable in Live Birth Certificate databases in Brazilian state capitals, 1996-2013]

The article assessed the quality of completion of the maternal school variable in Brazilian state capitals and its regional distribution, based on the Brazilian Information System on Live Births (SINASC) with processed data from live birth certificates. A descriptive study was conducted in the time series from 1996 to 2013, with a total de 12,062,064 births, of which 11,442,494 (94.86%) had valid information on the maternal schooling variable. The results were calculated as the number of incomplete results in the variable per 1,000 live births, and the trend was assessed with the Joinpoint software, version 4.3.1. According to regional analysis, the South of Brazil showed a downward trend in incompleteness of maternal schooling throughout the study in all the state capitals of that region. Most of the country's other state capitals also showed improvement in the variable's completeness. However, there were different trends in some state capitals, even with greater incompleteness at the end of the period when compared to the beginning. SINASC proved to be a valuable source of data on mothers and their newborns, besides information on conditions in labor, delivery, and birth in the country. Maternal schooling, considered an important factor for obstetric and neonatal outcomes, is particularly useful for elaborating and evaluating policies and measures in maternal and child health. Thus, to achieve maximum completeness in data on this variable requires joint effort by health professionals and administrators, thereby guaranteeing the data's trustworthiness.

Maternal education and age: inequalities in neonatal death

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the interaction between maternal age and education level in neonatal mortality, as well as investigate the temporal evolution of neonatal mortality in each stratum formed by the combination of these two risk factors.

METHODS

A nonconcurrent cohort study, resulting from a probabilistic relationship between the Mortality Information System and the Live Birth Information System. To investigate the risk of neonatal death we performed a logistic regression, with an odds ratio estimate for the combined variable of maternal education and age, as well as the evaluation of additive and multiplicative interaction. The neonatal mortality rate time series, according to maternal education and age, was estimated by the Joinpoint Regression program.

RESULTS

The neonatal mortality rate in the period was 8.09‰ and it was higher in newborns of mothers with low education levels: 12.7‰ (adolescent mothers) and 12.4‰ (mother 35 years old or older). Low level of education, without the age effect, increased the chance of neonatal death by 25% (OR = 1.25, 95%CI 1.14–1.36). The isolated effect of age on neonatal death was higher for adolescent mothers (OR = 1.39, 95%CI 1.33–1.46) than for mothers aged ≥ 35 years (OR = 1.16, 95%CI 1.09–1.23). In the time-trend analysis, no age group of women with low education levels presented a reduction in the neonatal mortality rate for the period, as opposed to women with intermediate or high levels of education, where the reduction was significant, around 4% annually.

CONCLUSIONS

Two more vulnerable groups – adolescents with low levels of education and older women with low levels of education – were identified in relation to the risk of neonatal death and inequality in reducing the mortality rate.

Temporal evolution of the risk factors associated with low birth weight rates in Brazilian capitals (1996-2011)

Objective

To analyze the trend of low birth weight (LBW) and its determinants in Brazilian state capitals between 1996 and 2011. We intended to determine which variables are associated with LBW during the period studied.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study that used data from the National Information System of Live Births from 26 state capitals and Brasilia (the federal capital), divided into five geographical regions. The Average Annual Percentage of Change (AAPC) was used to assess the possible time trend in the low birth weight rates for considering all regions together and each region separately, according to each variable, and the Poisson regression was calculated in order to demonstrate time trends in low birth weight and the impact of variables (age and educational maternal level, antenatal visits, type of delivery, and gestational age) during the period. All variables were analyzed together using the Poisson regression as well.

Results

From the total of 11,200,255 live births used in this study, there was a significant reduction in the number of live births, especially in the more developed regions. The low birth weight rate was 8 %, and it was stable during the period. Considering regional trends, the rate was higher in the Southeast and South regions, and significantly higher in the North, Northeast, and Central West regions. Improvements in maternal education and antenatal care coverage reduced the risk for low birth weight in all regions. Also, there was an increase in caesarean sections in all regions, with a small impact on low birth weight rates.

Conclusions

Improvements in education and health care reduced the risk for low birth weight in all Brazilian regions during the period of study. Trends in low birth weight rates and the associated factors differ from region to region, showing different stages of demographic, epidemiological and developmental transition in Brazil. The present study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (Protocol 120323).

Tendência da mortalidade neonatal na cidade de Salvador (Bahia-Brasil), 1996-2012

Objetivos:analisar a tendência da mortalidade neonatal, principais causas e potenciais fatores de risco, em Salvador-Bahia, 1996-2012.Métodos:estudo de série temporal tendo como fontes de dados os Sistemas de Informação sobre Mortalidade e sobre Nascidos Vivos/NV e Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde. Parâmetros da tendência temporal do coeficiente de mortalidade neonatal/CMN e da proporção de NV segundo características maternas, do recém-nascido e de atenção à saúde foram obtidos mediante Regressão Linear Simples. Coeficiente de Correlação de Spearman avaliou relação entre estas variáveis.Resultados:observou-se declínio de 21,2% no CMN, principalmente devido ao componente precoce (β= - 0,730; p=0,006; R2= 0,423). Acompanhou esta tendência, a proporção de NV de mães adolescentes e sem instrução. A proporção de NV de mães com idade > 35 anos, nascimentos prematuros e de partos cesáreos exibiram crescimento. Predominaram mortes neonatais por Infecções específicas do período perinatal (13,2%), Hipóxia intrauterina/Asfixia ao nascer (8,4%) e Transtornos relacionados à prematuridade/baixo peso ao nascer (15,9%), estas últimas com tendência de crescimento (β= 1,319; p=0,006; R2= 0,428).Conclusões:a mortalidade neonatal e potenciais fatores de risco estão decrescendo em Salvador. Iniciativas voltadas para melhoria da atenção ao recém-nascido e das condições de vida da população podem estar contribuindo para esta tendência.

Mortalidade infantil na percepção de gestores e profissionais de saúde: determinantes do seu declínio e desafios atuais em município do sul do Brasil

Este estudo objetivou analisar a percepção de gestores e profissionais da saúde sobre os determinantes para o declínio da mortalidade infantil nas últimas décadas, bem como os desafios para a continuidade da redução dos valores desse indicador em Londrina (PR). Foi realizado uma pesquisa qualitativa com análise de entrevistas de 38 gestores, profissionais de saúde e pesquisadores, selecionados pela técnica da bola de neve. Na visão dos entrevistados, os determinantes para a redução da mortalidade infantil foram melhorias das condições de vida e medidas implantadas por políticas públicas e ações setoriais e extrassetoriais. Os desafios atuais dizem respeito, principalmente, à qualificação da assistência pré-natal, à redução da gravidez na adolescência, à melhoria da atenção hospitalar ao recém-nascido prematuro, à prevenção da prematuridade e ao financiamento do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). O aumento da proporção de mortes neonatais torna mais complexo e difícil reduzir a mortalidade infantil. Compreender as dificuldades e identificar os desafios, sob a percepção de gestores e profissionais da saúde, pode contribuir para o planejamento das ações necessárias para a melhoria da saúde das crianças menores de 1 ano e para a redução da mortalidade infantil.

Classificação das mortes infantis em Belo Horizonte: utilização da lista atualizada de causas de mortes evitáveis por intervenções do Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil

Objetivos: analisar os óbitos de menores de um ano residentes em Belo Horizonte, segundo critérios de evitabilidadepropostos na Atualização da Lista de Causas de Mortes Evitáveis por Intervenção do Sistema Único de Saúde. Métodos: estudo descritivo que utilizou dados dos bancos dos Sistemas de Informação sobre Mortalidade e sobre Nascidos Vivos do Ministério da Saúde (DATASUS), no período de 2006 a 2011. As causas básicas de morte foram classificadas segundo critérios de evitabilidade. Foram calculados os coeficientes de mortalidade, a mortalidade proporcional por componentes e por principais grupos de causas. Resultados: o coeficiente de mortalidade infantil apresentou decréscimo de (18,7%) no período. Dentre as causas evitáveis, observou-se que as taxas declinaram nos subgrupos: reduzíveis por ações adequadas de diagnóstico e tratamento (38,8%) e reduzíveis por adequada atenção ao feto e ao recém nascido (30,6%). Os subgrupos reduzíveis por adequadas atenção à mulher na gestação e ações de promoção a saúde, vinculadas às ações de atenção cresceram (17,1% e 22,7%), respectivamente. Conclusões: a utilização da referida lista, permitiu identificar quais óbitos são mais passíveis de prevenção e avaliar qual categoria requer maior investimento para redução da mortalidade. Mostrou boa aplicabilidade para evitabilidade de óbitos nos recém-nascidos menores de 1000 gramas.

Risk factors for infant mortality in a municipality in southern Brazil: a comparison of two cohorts using hierarchical analysis

This study compared risk factors for infant mortality in 2000-2001 and 2007-2008 in Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil. Data on live births and infant deaths were linked in a single database, and a hierarchical regression model was used. Distal risk factors for infant mortality in 2000-2001 were maternal age < 20 or ≥ 35 years and lower maternal schooling. In 2007-2008, maternal age ≥ 35 or < 20 years were risk factors, while low schooling appeared as a protective factor. The following intermediate factors were associated with increased infant mortality in 2000-2001: multiple pregnancy, history of stillbirth, and insufficient number of prenatal visits, while cesarean delivery was a protective factor. Multiple pregnancy was the only intermediate risk factor in 2007-2008. All of the proximal factors were associated with higher infant mortality in 2000-2001, but only gestational age and 5-minute Apgar in 2007-2008. The risk factors for infant mortality changed from the first to the second cohort, which may be related to the expansion of social policies and primary care and changes in the reproductive and social patterns of Brazilian women.

Determinants of neonatal death with emphasis on health care during pregnancy, childbirth and reproductive history

OBJECTIVE

To identify risk factors for neonatal mortality, focusing on factors related to assistance care during the prenatal period, childbirth, and maternal reproductive history.

METHODS

This was a case-control study conducted in Maceió, Northeastern Brazil. The sample consisted of 136 cases and 272 controls selected from official Brazilian databases. The cases consisted of all infants who died before 28 days of life, selected from the Mortality Information System, and the controls were survivors during this period, selected from the Information System on Live Births, by random drawing among children born on the same date of the case. Household interviews were conducted with mothers.

RESULTS

The logistic regression analysis identified the following as determining factors for death in the neonatal period: mothers with a history of previous children who died in the first year of life (OR=3.08), hospitalization during pregnancy (OR=2.48), inadequate prenatal care (OR=2.49), lack of ultrasound examination during prenatal care (OR=3.89), transfer of the newborn to another unit after birth (OR=5.06), admittance of the newborn at the ICU (OR=5.00), and low birth weight (OR=2.57). Among the socioeconomic conditions, there was a greater chance for neonatal mortality in homes with fewer residents (OR=1.73) and with no children younger than five years (OR=10.10).

CONCLUSION

Several factors that were associated with neonatal mortality in this study may be due to inadequate care during the prenatal period and childbirth, and inadequate newborn care, all of which can be modified.