Biomaterial Database

[Avoidable perinatal deaths in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 1999]. 2002

Sônia Lansky, and Elisabeth Franca, and Maria do Carmo Leal Md

Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30130-007, Brasil. slansky@uol.com.br

The perinatal mortality rate is still high in Belo Horizonte. This study investigated all 826 perinatal deaths taking place in 1999, focusing on the possibility of their prevention, using the Wigglesworth classification. The perinatal mortality rate was 20.2 per one thousand births, and the risk of perinatal death was 20 times higher in children with low birthweight. Some 24.6% of the children weighed more than 2,500g, and the main cause of death in this group was asphyxia during labor. The antepartum cause of death contributed to 30% of all deaths, and 25% of these children weighed more than 2,500g. Some deaths occurred out of hospital, and in some cases the mother arrived at hospital in end-stage labor. About 40% of all perinatal deaths or 60% of all early neonatal deaths could have been prevented, suggesting flaws in prenatal, intrapartum, and neonatal care at both the clinical and health-care organizational levels. To intervene in this situation, progress is needed in improving quality of care and ensuring accountability in the specific health services and the health care system as a whole.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007226	Infant Mortality	Postnatal deaths from BIRTH to 365 days after birth in a given population. Postneonatal mortality represents deaths between 28 days and 365 days after birth (as defined by National Center for Health Statistics). Neonatal mortality represents deaths from birth to 27 days after birth.	Neonatal Mortality,Mortality, Infant,Postneonatal Mortality,Infant Mortalities,Mortalities, Infant,Mortalities, Neonatal,Mortalities, Postneonatal,Mortality, Neonatal,Mortality, Postneonatal,Neonatal Mortalities,Postneonatal Mortalities
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007234	Infant, Premature	A human infant born before 37 weeks of GESTATION.	Neonatal Prematurity,Premature Infants,Preterm Infants,Infant, Preterm,Infants, Premature,Infants, Preterm,Premature Infant,Prematurity, Neonatal,Preterm Infant
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011295	Prenatal Care	Care provided the pregnant woman in order to prevent complications, and decrease the incidence of maternal and prenatal mortality.	Antenatal Care,Care, Antenatal,Care, Prenatal
D001724	Birth Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual at BIRTH. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Birthweight,Birth Weights,Birthweights,Weight, Birth,Weights, Birth
D001938	Brazil	A country located on the eastern coast of South America, located between Colombia and Peru, that borders the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, on the south by Uruguay, and on the west by Argentina. The capital is Brasilia.
D002423	Cause of Death	Factors which produce cessation of all vital bodily functions. They can be analyzed from an epidemiologic viewpoint.	Causes of Death,Death Cause,Death Causes
D005260	Female		Females
D005313	Fetal Death	Death of the developing young in utero. BIRTH of a dead FETUS is STILLBIRTH.	Fetal Mummification,Fetal Demise,Death, Fetal,Deaths, Fetal,Demise, Fetal,Fetal Deaths,Mummification, Fetal