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Infant mortality in three population-based cohorts in Southern Brazil: trends and differentials

Iná S Santos1, Ana M B Menezes, Denise M Mota

  • 1Programa de Pós-graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil. inasantos@uol.com.br

Cadernos De Saude Publica
|September 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Infant mortality in Brazil decreased significantly, but stabilized recently. Rising preterm births in high-income families may be linked to increased medical interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Demography

Background:

  • Infant mortality rates (IMR) have historically been a key indicator of population health.
  • Trends in IMR and associated factors require ongoing monitoring to inform public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze time trends in infant mortality and its determinants in Pelotas, Brazil, across three distinct cohorts (1982, 1993, 2004).
  • To identify shifts in causes of death and risk factors, particularly concerning socioeconomic status and birth characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from three population-based cohort studies conducted in Pelotas, Brazil.
  • Collected comprehensive data on all hospital births and deaths, calculating neonatal, post-neonatal, and infant mortality rates.
  • Analyzed mortality rates by cause of death, sex, birth weight, gestational age, and family income.

Main Results:

  • Infant mortality rate declined from 36.4/1,000 live births in 1982 to 19.4/1,000 in 2004.
  • Perinatal causes and respiratory infections were primary causes of infant mortality in 2004.
  • While mortality decreased for low-birth-weight infants in poorer families, it rose over 100% for high-income families, linked to increased preterm births.

Conclusions:

  • The stabilization of infant mortality in the most recent decade may be associated with increased medical interventions during pregnancy and delivery.
  • Socioeconomic disparities persist in infant mortality, with specific risk factors emerging for different income groups.
  • Continued surveillance and targeted interventions are crucial to address persistent and emerging challenges in reducing infant mortality.

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