OBJECTIVES: to assess infant mortality notification to the Mortality Information System (MIS) and other notification sources support in Bom Conselho, Pernambuco, PE, 1999. METHODS: case study using child mortality data from homes in Bom Conselho collected by the municipal and state databanks, complemented by an active search in civil registration offices, healthcare units, cemeteries and communities, healthcare agents and traditional midwives. Household investigations was performed for all deaths and used to validate addresses. The percentage of under-notification to the Infant Mortality Information System and deaths grouped according to information location and notifying sources was calculated. RESULTS: high under-notification rate (46%) was determined as well as a high number of deaths at home. This data is suggestive of poor access to healthcare services as one of the most important issues. The principal source for notification were the community health agents followed by civil registration offices and healthcare clinics, the last as a preferred source in collecting information notwithstanding the high rates of hospital deaths not notified to the Mortality Information System. CONCLUSIONS: under-notification of infant mortality is a complex problem evading Information Systems. Overcoming the problems related to health-care services access is a basic condition to face the issue.
Evaluation; Infant mortality; Information systems
