OBJECTIVE: To identify and analyze the risk factors associated to infant mortality in the towns that comprise the 9th Health Regional, State of Parana (South Brazil), from 1997 to 2008. METHODS: This is a retrospective study using secondary data from Information System on Live Births (SINASC) and Information System on Mortality (SIM). The dependent variable was death during the first year of life and as independent variables: gender, birth weight, gestational age, place of death, type of pregnancy and parturition, maternal age and maternal education. The risk factors associated to death were evaluated by univariate analysis. RESULTS: Between 1997 and 2008, 92,716 births were registered by SINASC and 1,535 deaths in children under one year old were registered by SIM. Risk factors associated to mortality were: male gender (OR 1.09; 95%CI 1.04-1.15), low birth weight (OR 4.37; 95%CI 4.14-4.62), preterm births (OR 4.83; 95%IC 4.18-5.58), vaginal delivery (OR 1.11; 95%CI 1.05-1.17), adolescent mothers (OR 1.11; 95%CI 1.02-1.22) and low educational level (OR 1.97; 95%CI 1.84-2.10). CONCLUSIONS: The data showed a decrease in the infant mortality and the percentage of ignored information in the databases. The identified risk factors suggest the need of prenatal care attention on the most vulnerable groups.
infant mortality; information systems; risk factors
