Perfil epidemiológico da mortalidade em crianças na Paraíba, no período de: 2003 a 2013.

Abstract

The current study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological profile of mortality in children in the state of Paraiba, from 2003 to 2013. It is a ecologic type survey, performed with secondary data obtained from the online database and from free Mortality Information System access, provided by the Department of Information Technology of the Unified Health System, using the variables year of death, sex, race / color, micro-region and chapter of the International Classification of Diseases. The population consisted of children aged one to nine years, living in Paraíba and who died in the period between January 1st 2003 to December 31, 2013. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and distributed in graphs and tables, through Microsoft Office Excel for Windows 2010, besides being faced with the pertinent literature on the subject studied. For being used secondary data, available free and gratuitous on the World Wide Web through DATASUS, there was no need for this research to be submitted to the Ethics Committee in Human Beings Research. However, it were respected all the ethical principles established by Resolution No. 466/12 of the National Health Council. The results obtained showed a total of 2,869 deaths in the period surveyed, with a higher prevalence of deaths between the ages of one and four years old (63.19%), male (55.28%) and color / race brown (56.12%). It was observed a higher prevalence of deaths from external causes of morbidity and mortality (22.69%), respiratory diseases (13.56%) and symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings (10.91%). In addition, Paraiba micro-regions that showed the highest mortality rates were João Pessoa (22.55%), Campina Grande (12.86%) and North Coast (5.19%). At the end of this study it was concluded that the State of Paraiba has been following the reduction of infant mortality presented by Brazil, however facing the world present obstacles, such as social and economic exclusion, which are factors that hinder access to health care, leaving the children even more vulnerable, since they are considered to be susceptible to injuries and diseases. Thus, it becomes necessary that health professionals aware of the most prevalent causes of death, can anticipate the most urgent needs of children who come to the emergency room and the basic units, intervening thereby more efficiently.