Factors Associated with Infant Mortality in a Northeastern Brazilian Capital

Abstract

Identify factors associated with infant mortality by a hierarchical model based on socioeconomic, health care, obstetric and biological determinants in a northeastern Brazilian capital. Observational, retrospective cohort study based on secondary data of births and deaths of infants of mothers living in the city of Teresina. Based on the distal level of determination of infant mortality, the characteristics that remained statistically significant were maternal age, maternal education and maternal occupation ( < 0.001). In the intermediate level, all variables were statistically significant, particularly the type of pregnancy and delivery ( < 0.001). The gender of the baby was the proximal level feature that had no significant association with the outcome, while the other variables of this level had association ( < 0.001). This study evidenced that, in addition to biological factors, socioeconomic status and maternal and child health care are important to determine infant mortality.

Factors affecting infant mortality in the general population: evidence from the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey (EDHS); a multilevel analysis

“…The odds of infant death were higher among male infants as compared to females. This finding is in line with studies conducted in Kenya [17] and a multicenter study [18] but another study conducted in Brazil found no association between infant death and sex of the baby [8]. The higher risk of death among male infants could be explained by sex differences in genetic and biological makeup, with boys being biologically weaker and more susceptible to diseases and premature death [19].…”

“…Across the globe, different studies have been conducted to identify factors affecting infant mortality. Among these not attending antenatal care follow-up [5,6], wealth index, birth interval [7], maternal age, maternal education [8,9], domestic violence [10], healthrelated behavior like delaying in seeking health care [11], high poverty and living rural areas [12], and having metabolic disorders [13] were identified.…”

Epidemiological investigation of perinatal deaths in Recife-Pernambuco: a quality assessment

“…Inadequate completion of information on prenatal care makes it difficult to assess maternal and child care, and perpetuates deficiencies mainly in primary care and in the prevention of avoidable deaths. In this sense, a study showed that mothers with inadequate prenatal care have a higher chance of death (21) , and a recent evaluation of quality of prenatal care provided in the basic health network throughout Brazil revealed that only 15% of respondents received quality care according to the following parameters: number of visits, vaccination status, prescription of ferrous sulfate, physical examination, medical advice and complementary examinations (22) .…”

Infant Mortality and Obstetric Assistance's Quality

“…In this number of RBGO, two articles that have a direct or indirect intimate relation to this editorial are published. 11,12 In the first one, "Spatial Approach to Perinatal Mortality in São Paulo State from 2003 to 2012", the authors analyze perinatal mortality rates in the 645 municipalities of the state of São Paulo in two periods (2003 to 2007 and 2008 to 2012). They identify a significant global reduction comparing the 2 periods, with a drop of 8.4% in this rate.…”