Post-neonatal mortality. Household death versus death in a health care center
A comparative study. Montevideo, 2006
Abstract
Introduction: previous studies showed the importance of household post-neonatal mortality. It is necessary to increase our knowledge on this issue.
Objectives: to describe the characteristics of infants who died in the post-neonatal period; to compare infants who died in their household with those who died in a health care center.
Method: we conducted a descriptive and retrospective study of all infants who died in Montevideo in their post-neonatal period, in 2006. Data sources: death certificates, live-born infant certificates and forensic studies.
Results: of 81 deaths, 39 (FR=0.48) occurred in the household; 66 (FR=0.81) corresponded to the public sector users. The association of place of death and health care system was statistically significant. Among those deceased in the household, respiratory tract infection was the main cause of death (FR=0.41). The primary causes of most of the deaths in the health care service (FR=0.66) were congenital malformation and preterm birth.
Discussion: the study confirmed the figures corresponding to household post-neonatal mortality. Underregistration limited the analysis of several variables. Household death affected the population in the most vulnerable living conditions. Technological progress helped many preterm infants overcome the neonatal period, which in turn increased post-neonatal rates. Causes of post-neonatal death are mainly reducible at relatively low costs for both groups.
Conclusions: 1. Underregistration limits knowledge about infant mortality.
2. The deceased’s profile corresponds to boys, users of the public sector. Causes of death were natural cause and they were mainly reducible with simple measures.
3. Infants who died in the household correspond to the lowest socio-economic levels, and the main cause of death was respiratory tract infections.
4. Most deaths in the health care center are associated with preterm birth and congenital malformations.
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