INFANT MORTALITY IN BRAZIL: HISTORICAL SERIES FROM 1994 TO 2004 AND ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATORS IN MEDIUM AND LARGE MUNICIPALITIES

Abstract

Study design: descriptive study. Objective: to describe the historical series of infant mortality in Brazil according to age of death and main groups of causes, from 1994 to 2004. Association of socioeconomic indicators and infant mortality in 297 Brazilian municipalities with population equal or above 80.000 was also tested. Methods: the municipalities were divided into quartiles and the ANOVA and Kruskall-Wallis tests were applied to identify possible differences between the groups. Spearman’s coefficient of correlation between the dependent and independent variables was also described. Data was obtained from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and the Live Birth Information System (SINASC), from the Brazilian Ministry of Health/Datasus. Between 1994 and 2004, there was a decline in infant mortality rates and changes in main causes of death among infants. Results:  when observed only medium and large Brazilian municipalities, a high variation of infant mortality rates was detected. The study also revealed that all socioeconomic variables investigated presented a statistically significant correlation with infant mortality rates. Conclusion: specific policies on birth-care, maternal health, family planning and other actions to prevent illness and promote health should be directed with a higher priority to municipalities that present the worst socioeconomic indicators.