%0 Journal Article
%T Analysis of Maternal and Child Health Indicators in an Area at Paran¨¢ State, Brazil
%A Emiliana Cristina Melo
%A Ana Beatriz Guedes Ribeiro
%A Rosana Rosseto de Oliveira
%A Robsmeire Calvo Melo Zurita
%A Thais Aidar de Freitas Mathias
%J Nursing Research and Practice
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/495178
%X The aim of this study was to analyze maternal and child health indicators and infant mortality rate (IMR) at the cities located at the 18th Health Division (HD) in Parana State, Brazil. In this ecological study we analyzed all live births and infant deaths which occurred from 2000 to 2009 at the 18th HD, collecting data from the Mortality Information Database and the Live Births Information Database. The variables assessed were grouped into maternal, pregnancy and delivery, and neonatal variables. The analysis was conducted using the mean percentage of each variable and the IMR calculated for both periods: from 2000 to 2004 and from 2005 to 2009. The IMR was reduced considerably, following Brazil's and Paran¨¢ State's trend. Maternal indicators went down regarding the mean percentage of teenage mothers and low education, whereas they went up regarding mother with 35£¿years old or older and mothers without a partner. Pregnancy indicators showed increased prematurity and cesarean birth. Neonatal indicators raised in black/brown skin color and low birth weights percentages. This study provides a better understanding of maternal and child health in the cities located at the 18th HD, supplying grounds to plan actions regarding the real needs of each specific city. 1. Introduction Maternal and child health is a priority in Brazil¡¯s agenda of health programs and actions, as well as in several countries. The concept of maternal and child health has expanded over the years, which also includes a set of knowledge, practices, and attitudes that aim at the promotion of healthy pregnancies, deliveries, and births and also the prevention of maternal and child mortality [1]. Brazil, as many other areas in the world, has been showing a reduction in infant mortality rate (IMR), mainly due to sanitary investments and increased health services accessibility [2]. In 1990, Brazil¡¯s infant mortality rate was 47.1 deaths by a thousand live births. In 2009, it went down to 22.5 by a thousand live births [3]. In Paran¨¢ State, infant mortality has also decreased in the last years. In 2001, this rate was 17.4 by a thousand live births, and in 2008, this rate declined to 12.1 by a thousand live births, showing a 30.4% reduction. However, important inequities are observed among the cities located at the 18th Health Division area, which must be highlighted and addressed by health managers while devising prevision and distribution of resources and services, as well as health professionals¡¯ qualification [4]. Studies conducted in Paran¨¢ State expose inequities in maternal, pregnancy,
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/nrp/2013/495178/