Abstract

SUELI DEL CASTANHEL, Marcia et al. Neonatal mortality in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2013, vol.29, n.3, pp. 150-158. ISSN 0864-0319.

Objective: Analyze the profile of neonatal mortality in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, from 2001 to 2011. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted based on secondary data about neonatal mortality in the state of Santa Catarina obtained from the Mortality Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The variables examined about newborns were sex and birth weight, as reflected in death certificates (DC). The variables about mothers were age, education, pregnancy time and delivery type. Results: There were 8 141 neonatal deaths during the study period. Mean neonatal mortality rate was 8.69 per thousand live births. Neonatal mortality in Santa Catarina decreased 20.74% in the decade under study, with the highest percentage in the early neonatal period (76.39%). Conclusions: Most deaths were due to preventable causes which could have been dealt with through interventions aimed at improving prenatal care, such as access, quality, liaison with primary health care, and attention to deliveries and births. Data showed that there are still difficulties in the care of newborns. These are due to the absence of a pediatrician in the labor room, the reduced number of beds in the neonatal intensive care unit, especially the non-existence of clinical protocols, and the fact that pregnant women were not linked to maternal care centers.

Keywords : neonatal mortality; causes of death; child; health care.

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