Abstract

ALMEIDA, Solange Duarte de Mattos  and  BARROS, Marilisa Berti de Azevedo. Health care and neonatal mortality. Rev. bras. epidemiol. [online]. 2004, vol.7, n.1, pp. 22-35. ISSN 1415-790X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1415-790X2004000100004.

A Case control study was developed to identify the main factors associated with neonatal mortality, by analyzing socio-economic, maternal morbidity and especially health care related variables. Data were obtained from household interviews in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, 2001-2002. The study included 117 cases and 234 controls. The multiple logistic regression analysis in a hierarchic model identified the following as associated to neonatal death risk: socioeconomic variables (income, immigration, number of dwellers, no choice of delivery hospital); maternal morbidity (vaginal bleeding, early delivery due to health problems; time elapsed between hospital admission and delivery); quality of prenatal care (number of orientations received); health status of the newborn (gestational age, low birth weight and 5-minute APGAR). Conclusion: This study indicates the need to improve prenatal care, mainly for pregnant women with poor socioeconomic status and those in risk of preterm delivery.

Keywords : Neonatal mortality; Risk factors; Case control study.