Mortalidade infantil e acesso geográfico ao parto nos municípios brasileiros

[Regional inequalities in access to hospital birth in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: travel networks, distance, and time (2010-2019)]

Difficult access to birth care services is associated with infant and neonatal mortality and maternal morbidity and mortality. In this study, data from the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) were used to map the evolution of geographic accessibility to hospital birth of usual risk in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, corresponding to 418,243 admissions in 2010-2011 and 2018-2019. Travel flows, distances traveled, and intermunicipal travel time between the pregnant women's municipality and hospital location were estimated. An increase from 15.9% to 21.5% was observed in the number of pregnant women who needed to travel. The distance traveled increased from 24.6 to 26km, and the travel time from 76.4 to 96.1 minutes, with high variation between Health Regions (HR). Pregnant women living in HR Central-South traveled more frequently (37.4-48.9%), and those living in the HRs Baía da Ilha Grande and Northwest traveled the largest distances (90.9-132.1km) and took more time to get to the hospital in 2018-2019 (96-137 minutes). The identification of municipalities that received pregnant women from many other municipalities and municipalities that treated a higher number of pregnant women (hubs and attraction poles, respectively) reflected the unavailability and disparities in access to services. Regional inequalities and reduced accessibility highlight the need to adapt supply to demand and review the distribution of birth care services in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This study contributes to research and planning on access to maternal and child health services and can be used as a reference study for other states in the country.

[Access to neonatal healthcare services: analysis of displacement networks between municipalities in the State of Paraná, Brazil]

This study aimed to characterize hospitalizations of residents in Paraná State, Brazil, that occurred during the neonatal period in a municipality different from their place of residence from 2008 to 2019, and to describe displacement networks for the first and last biennium of the series, corresponding to periods before and after initiatives to regionalize health services in the state. Admissions of children aged from 0 to 27 days were obtained from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian National Unified Health System (SIH-SUS) database. For each biennium and health region, the proportion of admissions that occurred outside the municipality of residence, the weighted average distance traveled, and indicators of health and service provision were calculated. Mixed models were fitted to evaluate the biennial trend of the indicators and to investigate factors associated with the neonatal mortality rate (NMR). In total, 76,438 hospitalizations were selected, ranging from 9,030 in 2008-2009 to 17,076 in 2018-2019. The comparison of the networks obtained for 2008-2009 and 2018-2019 revealed an increase in the number of frequent destinations and in the proportion of displacements within the same health region. A decreasing trend was observed for distance, the proportion of live births with 5-minute Apgar ≤ 7, and for NMR. In the adjusted analysis for NMR, besides the biennial effect (-0.64; 95%CI: -0.95; -0.28), only the proportion of live birth with gestational age < 28 weeks showed statistical significance (4.26; 95%CI: 1.29; 7.06). The demand for neonatal hospital care increased over the study period. The displacement networks suggest a positive impact of regionalization, although investment in regions with the potential to become healthcare centers is necessary.

[Social inequalities in under-five mortality: a systematic review]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the characteristics of the published studies on social inequalities in under-five mortality, their theoretical perspectives, axes of inequality, methods and results.

METHOD

We carried out a systematic literature review. We consulted four electronic databases and Google Scholar, for studies published between 2010 and 2018.

RESULTS

We analyzed 126 articles. In 62.7%, territory was studied as the axis of inequality, followed by socioeconomic determinants (27.8%). Neonatal, infant and under-five mortality was analyzed as an output in health in 19.0%, 49.2% and 32.3%, respectively. It predominated ecological (62.7%) and longitudinal (50.0%) studies. Significant reductions in mortality rates were found, however, the decline was not homogeneous among subpopulations.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature reports a marked decrease in under-five mortality; however, the gaps between different axes of inequality continue and in some cases they have increased. Gaps varied according to time, place, axis of inequality and type of mortality analyzed.

The Determinants of Infant Mortality in Brazil, 2010-2020: A Scoping Review

Despite the implementation of social and health policies that positively affected the health of the populations in Brazil, since 2009 the country has experienced a slower decline of infant mortality. After an economic and political crisis, Brazil witnessed increases in infant mortality that raised questions about what are the determinants of infant mortality after the implementation of such policies. We conducted a scoping review to identify and summarize those determinants with searches in three databases: LILACS, MEDLINE, and SCIELO. We included studies published between 2010 and 2020. We selected 23 papers: 83% associated infant mortality with public policies; 78% related infant mortality with the use of the health system and socioeconomic and living conditions; and 27% related to individual characteristics to infant mortality. Inequalities in the access to healthcare seem to have important implications in reducing infant mortality. Socioeconomic conditions and health-related factors such as income, education, fertility, housing, and the Bolsa Família. Program coverage was pointed out as the main determinants of infant mortality. Likewise, recent changes in infant mortality in Brazil are likely related to these factors. We also identified a gap in terms of studies on a possible association between employment and infant mortality.

Comprehending the lack of access to maternal and neonatal emergency care: Designing solutions based on a space-time approach

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to better understand how the lack of emergency child and obstetric care can be related to maternal and neonatal mortality levels.

METHODS

We performed spatiotemporal geospatial analyses using data from Brazilian municipalities. An emergency service accessibility index was derived using the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) for 951 hospitals. Mortality data from 2000 to 2015 was used to characterize space-time trends. The data was overlapped using a spatial clusters analysis to identify regions with lack of emergency access and high mortality trends.

RESULTS

From 2000 to 2015 Brazil the overall neonatal mortality rate varied from 11,42 to 11,71 by 1000 live births. The maternal mortality presented a slightly decrease from 2,98 to 2,88 by 100 thousand inhabitants. For neonatal mortality the Northeast and North regions presented the highest percentage of up trending. For maternal mortality the North region exhibited the higher volume of up trending. The accessibility index obtained highlighted large portions of the rural areas of the country without any coverage of obstetric or neonatal beds.

CONCLUSIONS

The analyses highlighted regions with problems of mortality and access to maternal and newborn emergency services. This sequence of steps can be applied to other low and medium income countries as health situation analysis tool.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Low and middle income countries have greater disparities in access to emergency child and obstetric care. There is a lack of approaches capable to support analysis considering a spatiotemporal perspective for emergency care. Studies using Geographic Information System analysis for maternal and child care, are increasing in frequency. This approach can identify emergency child and obstetric care saturated or deprived regions. The sequence of steps designed here can help researchers, and policy makers to better design strategies aiming to improve emergency child and obstetric care.

Accessibility to people with motor, visual, or hearing disabilities during delivery and childbirth: the structure of SUS facilities linked to Rede Cegonha

There are no nationwide studies characterizing accessibility for people with disabilities during delivery. This study aimed to describe the physical structure of hospital units regarding accessibility for pregnant and puerperae with motor (MD), visual (VD), or hearing (HD) disabilities in Brazil. This is an ecological, descriptive study conducted in all 606 health facilities linked to the "Rede Cegonha" where deliveries occurred, according to 2015 databases. We performed the descriptive and geospatial analysis and considered the presence of motor accessibility when the establishment had a handrail or elevator ramp, wheelchair-sized doors, and accessible bathroom with bars. We assumed visual accessibility when there was tactile signage on the floor (Braille system or embossed figures) and hearing accessibility when there was signage by texts, pictures, signs, posters, or symbols in the environments. In Brazil, only 26 (4.3%) of the facilities had accessibility for people with MD, 20 (3.3%) for people with VD, and none for HD. Motor accessibility was worse in the North and Northeast of Brazil, and hearing accessibility in the North region. Despite advances in the implementation of the "Rede Cegonha" in Brazil, the facilities' structure is not adapted for women with MD, VD, or HD.

[Barriers in access to services in five Health Regions of Brazil: perceptions of policymakers and professionals in the Brazilian Unified National Health System]

The study aimed to analyze barriers in access to health services in five Health Regions of Brazil. The study analyzed the answers to semi-structured questionnaires applied to health policymakers, providers, and professionals from the Brazilian Unified National Health System, referenced on the following dimensions: Geographic Accessibility, Availability, and Acceptability. The analysis pointed to specificities in barriers to access in the five regions, while others such as location and time spent to reach the service were barriers in nearly all of them, based on care for stroke patients. In terms of Availability, there were issues related to shortage of physicians, long waiting time, and integration among services in all the regions. As for Acceptability, the study highlighted users' belief that they have no health problems. The Health Regions located in South and Southeast Brazil showed the fewest and least variety of barriers, revealing the persistence of regional inequalities. Although the results do not represent the country as a whole, they allow identifying relevant issues for regionalization of the national health system.

Progress toward eliminating TB and HIV deaths in Brazil, 2001-2015: a spatial assessment

BACKGROUND

Brazil has high burdens of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV, as previously estimated for the 26 states and the Federal District, as well as high levels of inequality in social and health indicators. We improved the geographic detail of burden estimation by modelling deaths due to TB and HIV and TB case fatality ratios for the more than 5400 municipalities in Brazil.

METHODS

This ecological study used vital registration data from the national mortality information system and TB case notifications from the national communicable disease notification system from 2001 to 2015. Mortality due to TB and HIV was modelled separately by cause and sex using a Bayesian spatially explicit mixed effects regression model. TB incidence was modelled using the same approach. Results were calibrated to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Case fatality ratios were calculated for TB.

RESULTS

There was substantial inequality in TB and HIV mortality rates within the nation and within states. National-level TB mortality in people without HIV infection declined by nearly 50% during 2001 to 2015, but HIV mortality declined by just over 20% for males and 10% for females. TB and HIV mortality rates for municipalities in the 90th percentile nationally were more than three times rates in the 10th percentile, with nearly 70% of the worst-performing municipalities for male TB mortality and more than 75% for female mortality in 2001 also in the worst decile in 2015. The same municipality ranking metric for HIV was observed to be between 55% and 61%. Within states, the TB mortality rate ratios by sex for municipalities in the worst decile versus the best decile varied from 1.4 to 2.9, and HIV varied from 1.4 to 4.2. The World Health Organization target case fatality rate for TB of less than 10% was achieved in 9.6% of municipalities for males versus 38.4% for females in 2001 and improved to 38.4% and 56.6% of municipalities for males versus females, respectively, by 2014.

CONCLUSIONS

Mortality rates in municipalities within the same state exhibited nearly as much relative variation as within the nation as a whole. Monitoring the mortality burden at this level of geographic detail is critical for guiding precision public health responses.

[Differences in live birth clusters in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, 2010]

This study aimed to identify birth clusters according to type of hospital (SUS vs. non-SUS) and the existence of differences in socioeconomic, maternal, neonatal, and healthcare access characteristics, measured by the distance between the mothers' homes and the hospitals where they gave birth. Births to mothers residing in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2010 were georeferenced and allocated in 310 weighting areas from the population census, in addition to classifying them according to hospital of birth (SUS vs. non-SUS). Spatial clusters were identified through the spatial sweep technique for spatial dependence of SUS and non-SUS births, leading to the formation of ten SUS clusters and seven non-SUS clusters. Births in non-SUS hospitals formed clusters in the city's central area, with a lower proportion of low-income households. The SUS birth clusters were located on the outskirts of the city, where there are more households in subnormal clusters. Both SUS and non-SUS clusters were not internally homogeneous, showing differences in maternal age, schooling, and number of prenatal visits and very premature newborns. The theoretical mean distance traveled by mothers to the hospital was 51.8% lower in the SUS clusters (5.1km) than in the non-SUS clusters (9.8km). The formation of birth clusters showed differences in maternal, pregnancy, childbirth, and neonatal characteristics, in addition to displaying a radial-concentric spatial distribution, reflecting the city's prevailing socioeconomic differences. The shorter distance in SUS births indicates regionalization of childbirth care in the city of São Paulo.

Access to and use of health services as factors associated with neonatal mortality in the North, Northeast, and Vale do Jequitinhonha regions, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the factors associated with neonatal mortality related to health services accessibility and use.

METHODS

Case-control study of live births in 2008 in small- and medium-sized municipalities in the North, Northeast, and Vale do Jequitinhonha regions, Brazil. A probabilistic sample stratified by region, population size, and information adequacy was generated for the choice of municipalities. Of these, all municipalities with 20,000 inhabitants or less were included in the study (36 municipalities), whereas the remainder were selected according to the probability method proportional to population size, totaling 20 cities with 20,001-50,000 inhabitants and 19 municipalities with 50,001-200,000 inhabitants. All deaths of live births in these cities were included. Controls were randomly sampled, considered as four times the number of cases. The sample size comprised 412 cases and 1772 controls. Hierarchical multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

The risk factors for neonatal death were socioeconomic class D and E (OR=1.28), history of child death (OR=1.74), high-risk pregnancy (OR=4.03), peregrination in antepartum (OR=1.46), lack of prenatal care (OR=2.81), absence of professional for the monitoring of labor (OR=3.34), excessive time waiting for delivery (OR=1.97), borderline preterm birth (OR=4.09) and malformation (OR=13.66).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest multiple causes of neonatal mortality, as well as the need to improve access to good quality maternal-child health care services in the assessed places of study.

Fatores associados às faltas em tratamentos ortodônticos em centro de especialidades odontológicas

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os fatores associados ao não comparecimento dos usuários ao tratamento ortodôntico, em três centros de especialidades odontológicas regionais (CEO-R) localizados no estado do Ceará. Metodologia: Os dados foram extraídos de prontuários de pacientes que concluíram o tratamento ortodôntico. Foi calculada a taxa de ausências, com o objetivo de estabelecer um coeficiente de faltas entre os municípios. A fim de descrever o padrão geográfico da ocorrência, foram construídos mapas temáticos baseados nas distribuições. Para as associações entre a variável desfecho (falta ao tratamento) e as independentes (sexo, idade, quebra de aparelho, mudança de profissional, renda e local de residência do usuário), utilizou-se a análise de regressão logística múltipla com p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: Foram examinados 237 prontuários em 20 municípios, com 8.283 consultas ortodônticas realizadas e 2.665 (32,17%) faltas. Apresentou diferença estatisticamente significativa a variável mudança de profissional. Conclusão: O maior número de faltas foi associado à mudança de profissional.

[Characterization of access to normal childbirth care in Bahia State, Brazil, based on graph theory]

Origin-destination flow is a phenomenon that can be modeled as a network. Graph theory is a mathematical tool to characterize a network and thus allows studying the topological properties and temporal and spatial development of a set of related elements. The article aims to estimate the topological evolution of an inter-municipal network of normal deliveries. We selected the admissions for normal deliveries in the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified National Health System, from 2008 to 2014, for women residing in Bahia State, Brazil. The following indices were applied: entry degree (from how many municipalities the women came for childbirth), exit degree (to how many municipalities they left), entry flow (how many women came), exit flow (how many women left), and the mean size of the exit edge (distance traveled). Analyses between macro-regions used the following indicators: proportion of normal deliveries performed outside the municipality of residence and mean size of the exit edge. The results indicate an increase in deliveries performed outside the municipality of residence, in addition to the persistence of concentration of deliveries in the hub municipalities in the Health Regions, and an increase in the distance between the municipality of residence and the municipality where the delivery took place. The organization of networks for normal childbirth poses an on-going challenge. It is important to analyze the flow of women for childbirth care in order to support the establishment of inter-municipal references to guarantee safe labor and childbirth. In conclusion, it is necessary to develop a regionalized network to meet the demand by pregnant women in the territory with universal and equitable coverage.

[Quality of care for labor and childbirth in a public hospital network in a Brazilian state capital: patient satisfaction]

The study assessed the quality of care for labor and childbirth in the public hospital system in the city of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, according to the mothers' satisfaction, using a cross-sectional exploratory study in all the public hospitals in the network, grouped according to type of hospital management and interviews with 1,000 mothers. Quality of care was measured according to management strata and the following dimensions of quality: reception; respect for individual rights; prenatal and childbirth care; and ambience. The results' significance was analyzed with the Pearson and Friedman chi-square test. There was high prenatal coverage, not linked to childbirth care, and intense migration of deliveries. Waiting time for care by the healthcare team was long, the proportion of vaginal deliveries in the municipal maternity services was 80%, and only 16% of the deliveries included skin-to-skin contact with the newborn; breastfeeding occurred in the birthing room in 11% of the deliveries. Among the various management modalities, the charitable hospital rated highest. The target dimension showed significant differences, with higher satisfaction rates for the following: respect (88.2%), kindness (86.7%), physicians' work (85.2%), and trust in the healthcare staff (84.3%). The highest rates of dissatisfaction were for: temperature on the ward (62.2%), possibility of lodging complaints (48.1%), quantity and quality of hospital clothing and bedding (49.2%), and privacy (43%). Despite positive strides, the findings show the need for reorganization of obstetric care policy, with regionalization, regulation, consolidation of networks of care, and interventions in the healthcare setting, aimed at consolidating the humanization of care.

Determinants of infant mortality in the Jequitinhonha Valley and in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify the social and demographic determinants, in addition to the determinants of reproductive health and use of health services, associated with infant mortality in small and medium-sized cities of the North, Northeast and Southeast regions of Brazil.

METHODS

This is a case-control study with 803 cases of death of children under one year and 1,969 live births (controls), whose mothers lived in the selected cities in 2008. The lists of the names of cases and controls were extracted from the Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM - Mortality Information System) and the Sistema de Informação sobre Nascidos Vivos (SINASC - Live Birth Information System) and supplemented by data obtained by the research of "active search of death and birth". Data was collected in the household using a semi-structured questionnaire, and the analysis was carried out using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The final model indicates that the following items are positively and significantly associated with infant mortality: family working in agriculture, mother having a history of fetal and infant losses, no prenatal or inadequate prenatal, and not being associated to the maternity hospital during the prenatal period. We have observed significant interactions to explain the occurrence of infant mortality between race and socioeconomic score and between high-risk pregnancy and pilgrimage for childbirth.

CONCLUSIONS

The excessive number of home deliveries and pilgrimage for childbirth indicates flaws in the line of maternity care and a lack of collaboration between the levels of outpatient and hospital care. The study reinforces the need for an integrated management of the health care networks, leveraging the capabilities of cities in meeting the needs of pregnancy, delivery and birth with quality.

OBJETIVO

Identificar os determinantes sociais, demográficos, da saúde reprodutiva e de utilização dos serviços de saúde associados ao óbito infantil em municípios de pequeno e médio porte das regiões Norte, Nordeste e Sudeste do Brasil.

MÉTODOS

Trata-se de um estudo caso-controle com 803 casos de óbito de menores de um ano e 1.969 nascidos vivos (controles), cujas mães residiam em 2008 nos municípios selecionados. As listas nominais dos casos e do controles foram extraídas do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade e do Sistema de Informação sobre Nascidos Vivos e completadas por dados obtidos pela pesquisa de "busca ativa de óbito e nascimento". A coleta de dados foi realizada em domicílio por meio de questionário semiestruturado, e a análise, por meio de regressão logística múltipla.

RESULTADOS

O modelo final indicou que estão associadas positivamente e significativamente ao óbito infantil: a família trabalhar na agricultura, a mãe ter tido história de perdas fetais e infantis, não ter feito pré-natal ou ter tido um pré-natal inadequado e não estar vinculada à maternidade durante o pré-natal. Foram observadas interações significativas para explicar a ocorrência do óbito infantil entre cor de pele e escore socioeconômico e entre gestação classificada como de risco e peregrinação para o parto.

CONCLUSÕES

O número excessivo de partos domiciliares e de peregrinação para o parto indica falhas na linha de cuidado da gestante e desarticulação entre os níveis de atenção ambulatorial e hospitalar. O estudo reforça a necessidade de uma gestão integrada das redes de atenção à saúde, potencializando as capacidades municipais em atender, com qualidade, à gestação, ao parto e ao nascimento.

Adequacy of public maternal care services in Brazil

Background

In Brazil, hospital childbirth care is available to all, but differences in access and quality of care result in inequalities of maternal health. The objective of this study is to assess the infrastructure and staffing of publicly financed labor and birth care in Brazil and its adequacy according to clinical and obstetric conditions potentially associated with obstetric emergencies.

Methods

Nationwide cross-sectional hospital-based study “Birth in Brazil: national survey into labor and birth” conducted in 2011–2012. Data from 209 hospitals classified as public (public funding and management) or mixed (public or private funding and private management) that generate estimates for 1148 Brazilian hospitals. Interview with hospital managers provided data for the structure adequacy assessment covering four domains: human resources, medications, equipment for women emergency care and support services. We conducted analysis of the structure adequacy rate according to type of hospital (public or mixed), availability of ICU and the woman obstetric risk using the X² test to detect differences in categorical variables with the level of statistical significance set at p <0.05.

Results

Global rate of adequacy of 34.8 %: 42.2 % in public hospitals and 29.0 % in mixed hospitals (p < 0.001). Public and mixed hospitals with ICU had higher scores of adequacy than hospitals without ICU (73.3 % × 24.4 % public hospitals; 40.3 % × 10.6 % mixed hospitals). At a national level, 32.8 % of women with obstetric risk were cared for in hospitals without ICU and 29.5 % of women without risk were cared for in hospitals with ICU. Inequalities were observed with the North, Northeast and non-capital regions having the lower rates of hospitals with ICU.

Conclusions

The majority of maternity wards across the country have a low rate of adequacy that can affect the quality of labor and birth care. This holds true for women at high obstetric risk, who suffer the possibility of having their care compromised by failures of hospital infrastructure, and for women at low obstetric risk, who may not receive the appropriate care to support the natural evolution of their labor when in a technological hospital environment.

Variações espaciais e desigualdades regionais no indicador de mortalidade infantil do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo é analisar as variações espaciais e as desigualdades regionais no indicador de mortalidade infantil do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. O estudo foi feito considerando os municípios desse estado no período de 2003 a 2012 e tendo em vista a seleção de três dimensões operativas de análise: taxa de mortalidade infantil (TMI) e proporção da população atendida nas Equipes Saúde da Família (PCSF); TMI e proporção de nascidos vivos sem acompanhamento pré-natal (PNVSPN); TMI e Índice de Privação Material (IPM). Os dados foram coletados em fontes secundárias oficiais, modelados em Sistema de Informação Geográfica e analisados com recursos da estatística espacial descritiva e bayesiana. Os resultados indicaram redução das TMI em Minas Gerais, mas ainda persistem acentuadas desigualdades regionais, com taxas elevadas nos municípios com elevados IPM e PNVSPN. Observa-se, pois, a necessidade de ampliação e qualificação do acesso ao pré-natal e intervenções no contexto regional em setores nem sempre ligados ao sistema de saúde, mas que são fundamentais para redução da mortalidade infantil.

Access to childbirth care by adolescents and young people in the Northeastern region of Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To identify the factors that interfere with the access of adolescents and young people to childbirth care for in the Northeast region of Brazil.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study with 3,014 adolescents and young people admitted to the selected maternity wards to give birth in the Northeast region of Brazil. The sample design was probabilistic, in two stages: the first corresponded to the health establishments and the second to women who had recently given birth and their babies. The data was collected by means of interviews and consulting the hospital records, from pre-tested electronic form. Descriptive statistics were used for the univariate analysis, Pearson's Chi-square test for the bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regressions for the multivariate analysis. Sociodemographic variables, obstetrical history, and birth care were analyzed.

RESULTS

Half of the adolescents and young people interviewed had not been given guidance on the location that they should go to when in labor, and among those who had, 23.5% did not give birth in the indicated health service. Furthermore, one third (33.3%) had to travel in search of assisted birth, and the majority (66.7%) of the postpartum women came to maternity by their own means. In the bivariate analysis, the variables marital status, paid work, health insurance, number of previous pregnancies, parity, city location, and type of health establishment showed a significant association (p < 0.20) with inadequate access to childbirth care. The multivariate analysis showed that married adolescents and young people (p < 0.015), with no health insurance (p < 0.002) and from the countryside (p < 0.001) were more likely to have inadequate access to childbirth care.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents and young women, married, without health insurance, and from the countryside are more likely to have inadequate access to birth care. The articulation between outpatient care and birth care can improve this access and, consequently, minimize the maternal and fetal risks that arise from a lack of systematic hospitalization planning.

Neonatal care in Brazil: hospital structure and adequacy according to newborn obstetric risk

BACKGROUND

In Brazil, hospital birth care is available to all, but there are important differences between hospitals in the public and private sectors, geographical regions and capitals/inland cities, resulting in inequalities of infant health.

AIMS

To assess the hospital structure for birth care in Brazil and analyze hospital adequacy to care for newborns according to levels of risk.

METHODS

Data were collected as part of a nationwide hospital-based cohort study, 'Birth in Brazil'. The hospitals were classified according to whether they had a neonatal intensive care unit and divided into two models of governance: public and private financing. Three structure domains were assessed: human resources, medications and equipment for post-natal women and newborn emergency care. Newborns were classified according to the obstetric risk.

RESULTS

There are more NICUs in private hospitals and they cater mostly for low obstetric risk newborns; the public sector serves 50% of at-risk patients in hospitals without an NICU. The differences between hospital service structures according to geographic region and capital/inland cities were evident. Hospitals in less developed regions and inland cities had poorer adequacy in the three domains.

CONCLUSION

The distribution of neonatal care to Brazilian infants varied between the public and private sectors. The public sector offered less complex services for newborns at risk, and infants without obstetric risk were born in facilities with an NICU, creating the possibility of unnecessary intervention, especially in the private sector.

Mortalidade infantil nos municípios brasileiros: uma proposta de método de estimação

Objectivos: propor um método para estimação do Coeficiente de Mortalidade Infantil (CMI) por município, levando em consideração a subenumeração de óbitos e a estimação do CMI em áreas de pequeno porte populacional. Métodos: o método foi desenvolvido a partir da estimação de fatores de correção de óbitos e nascidos vivos por município, no triênio 2009-2011, através de indicadores construídos para caracterizar a cobertura das informações vitais. Foi proposto um procedimento para verificar se o número corrigido de óbitos infantis atingiu o valor mínimo esperado de acordo com o porte populacional do município. No caso de insuficiência do fator de correção, foram usados os valores preditos de uma regressão multivariada para estimar o CMI. Resultados: os modelos de estimação dos fatores de correção das estatísticas vitais mostraram correlações inversas e significativas com os indicadores que caracterizam a cobertura dos dados vitais. Os valores preditos dos fatores de correção foram aplicados para todos os municípios localizados nos estados que não têm informações vitais completas. Em apenas 230 municípios, a correção foi considerada insuficiente. Conclusões: os achados evidenciam que existem, ainda, grandes problemas a superar, como as persistentes desigualdades relacionadas ao desenvolvimento socioeconómico, o acesso à assistência de saúde e à omissão da informação de óbito, que compromete o dimensionamento da situação local.

Estrutura das maternidades: aspectos relevantes para a qualidade da atenção ao parto e nascimento

Avaliar aspectos da estrutura de uma amostra de maternidades do Brasil. A estrutura foi avaliada tendo como referências as normas do Ministério da Saúde e englobou: localização geográfica, volume de partos, existência de UTI, atividade de ensino, qualificação de recursos humanos, disponibilidade de equipamentos e medicamentos. Os resultados evidenciam diferenças na qualificação e na disponibilidade de equipamentos e insumos dos serviços de atenção ao parto e nascimento segundo o tipo de financiamento, regiões do país e grau de complexidade. As regiões Norte/Nordeste e Centro-oeste apresentaram os maiores problemas. No Sul/Sudeste, os hospitais estavam melhores estruturados, atingindo proporções satisfatórias em vários dos aspectos estudados, próximas ou mesmo superiores ao patamar da rede privada. O presente estudo traz para o debate a qualidade da estrutura dos serviços hospitalares ofertados no país, e sublinha a necessidade de desenvolvimento de estudos analíticos que considerem o processo e os resultados da assistência.

[The spatial inequality of low birth weight in Brazil]

Low birth weight (LBW) is a risk factor for neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality. In Brazil the highest percentages of low birth weight occur in regions of higher socio-economic status. The scope of this article is to ascertain the spatial distribution of low birth weight rates and the correlation with social and service indicators. The scale is ecological taking all the Brazilian states as units of analysis. The spatial analysis technique is the methodology used together with data from SINASC, IPEA and IBGE for 2009. Higher rates of low birth weight are found in the south/southeastern states (Global Moran: 0.267, p = 0.02). Clusters of the high-high type in the Southeast and of the low-low variety in states in the Amazon region are detected. The spatial inequality of low birth weight reflects the socio-economic conditions of the states. More developed regions have higher rates of low birth weight, therefore, the presence of the service and its use decrease infant mortality and increase LBW.

[Access to care for women during childbirth in university hospitals: characterization and associated factors]

This study aimed to analyze the socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric, neonatal and healthcare factors associated with access to care by women during childbirth. It was a transversal study conducted on puerperal women in two university hospitals in the state of Paraná, Brazil in 2011. Access to childbirth was analyzed according to socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric, neonatal and healthcare variables. The puerperal women were interviewed during hospitalization, in the first 72 hours after birth. The data was analyzed by relative frequencies and calculation of the chi2, considering a significant association when p < or = 0.05. The overall rate of women referred to university hospitals was 17.7%. A significant associated was found between access to childbirth and residing in other cities; premature birth; underweight newborns; complications in the current pregnancy and the use of ambulances. It was concluded that the associated factors found in this study suggest that pregnant women with some risk required referral to university hospitals.

Mortalidade infantil e Saúde da Família nas unidades da Federação brasileira, 1998-2008

Objetivo: Analisar a relação entre mortalidade infantil e cobertura populacional da Saúde da Família nas unidades da Federação brasileira.Métodos:Estudo ecológico cuja unidade de análise foi composta pelos 26 Estados brasileiros, na série histórica de 1998 a 2008. Foram descritos o percentual de cobertura populacional da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) e a taxa de mortalidade infantil e construídas curvas de regressão linear das variáveis estudadas. A associação estatística foi realizada por meio do teste de correlação de Pearson e da regressão linear simples.Resultados:Houve aumento de 857% nas equipes da ESF, ampliação de 43% na cobertura populacional e diminuição da mortalidade infantil em 58% no Brasil. A expansão da cobertura da ESF esteve associada à redução das taxas de mortalidade infantil em 73% dos Estados brasileiros (p<0,05).Conclusão:Os achados permitem explorar uma possível associação entre o aumento da cobertura populacional da ESF e a redução das taxas de mortalidade infantil no Brasil.

[Public spending on drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopause]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze expenditure on treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis and associated factors on mean per capita expenditure.

METHODS

A probabilistic-deterministic linkage between the database of Authorizations for Highly Complex Procedures and the mortality information system was constructed, resulting in a historical cohort of patients using high-cost medications for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, between 2000-2006. Mean monthly spending on medicines was stratified by age group and described according to demographic and clinical characteristics and the type of drug used. A linear regression model was used to assess the impact of demographic and clinical characteristics on per capita mean monthly expenditure on medicines.

RESULTS

We identified 72,265 women who received drugs for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The average monthly expenditure per capita in the first year of treatment was $ 54.02 (sd $ 86.72). The population was predominantly composed of women aged 60-69 years old, who had started treatment in 2000, resident in the Southeast of Brazil, who had previously suffered osteoporotic fractures, and Alendronate sodium was the drug most commonly used at baseline. For most of the patients, the same active ingredient remained in use throughout the treatment period. During the program, 6,429 deaths were identified among participants. More than a third of women remained in treatment for up to 12 months. Raloxifen and calcitonin were the therapeutic alternatives with the greatest impact on the average monthly expenditure on medicine using alendronate sodium as a reference standard.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the high impact of the type of drug used on expenditure on medication, it is recommended that criteria for prescribing and dispensing be established by prioritizing those with lower costs and greater effectiveness in order to optimize the process of pharmaceutical care and provide the population with a greater number of pharmaceutical units.

Desigualdade espacial da mortalidade neonatal no Brasil: 2006 a 2010

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a distribuição espacial da mortalidade neonatal e sua correlação com os fatores biológicos, socioeconômicos e de atenção à saúde materno-infantil, nos estados brasileiros, no período de 2006 a 2010. Foram construídos mapas temáticos e de correlação (LISA) para verificação de dependência espacial e modelos de regressão linear múltipla. Verificou-se que não há autocorrelação espacial para mortalidade neonatal nos estados brasileiros (I = 0,002; p = 0,48). A maioria das variáveis estava correlacionada (r > 0,3, p < 0,05) com a mortalidade neonatal, formando clusters em estados do Norte e Nordeste, com maiores taxas de mães adolescentes, renda domiciliar per capta baixa, menor realização de consultas de pré-natal e de leitos de UTI Neonatal. O número de leitos de UTI Neonatal manteve efeito independente após a análise de regressão. Conclui-se que as desigualdades regionais das condições de vida e, principalmente, de acesso aos serviços de saúde materno-infantil contribuem para a distribuição desigual da mortalidade neonatal no Brasil.