OBJECTIVE: To estimate and evaluate the completeness of adult death reporting for all Brazilian states. METHODS: Death statistics from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and the Brazilian Ministry of Health for the period between 1999 and 2001 were compared by sex. Three techniques were used to evaluate the extent of death underreporting. The final estimative followed previously set criteria, resulting in four evaluation categories. RESULTS: For the first time, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics reported fewer deaths than the Ministry of Health. Death reporting showed to be at least "satisfactory" in all states in the South, Southeast, Mid-West and part of the Northeast region. The remaining states, from the Northeastern state of Piauí toward the North, were classified as "average" except for the state of Roraima. Fuller death reporting was seen among males. CONCLUSIONS: Increased death reporting was seen in all regions, particularly for those in North and Northeast regions. If this trend will continue, all Brazilian states will likely exceed 80% reporting by the year 2010.
Mortality; Differential mortality; Specific mortality; Vital statistics; Underreporting; Death certificate; Brazil
