this study aimed at obtaining information on the development of data records in neonatal intensive care units in brazil; comparing the number of beds in neonatal intensive care units with that in intensive care units in general and assessing their distribution in different brazilian states. there has been an increase in the number of beds and authorizations for hospitalizations in intensive care units. the percentages indicating the total number of beds for intensive care and neonatal intensive care vary from one state to another with 17% in s？o paulo, 25% in rio grande do sul and 29.5% in paraná. s？o paulo state presents the highest number of beds, followed by rio grande do sul.
