Neonatal mortality in Luanda, Angola: what can be done to reduce it?

Authors

  • Ema Cunha Rodrigues Laboratório de Análises Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP
  • Beatriz da Costa Aguiar Alves Laboratório de Análises Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP
  • Glaucia Luciano da Veiga Laboratório de Análises Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP
  • Fernando Adami Laboratório de Epidemiologia da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP
  • Juliana Spat Carlesso Laboratório de Delineamento e Escrita Científica, Centro Universitário Saúde ABC (FMABC) – Santo André (SP)
  • Francisco Winter dos Santos Figueiredo Laboratório de Epidemiologia da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP
  • Ligia Ajaime Azzalis Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP - Diadema, Sao Paulo
  • Virginia Berlanga Campos Junqueira Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP - Diadema, Sao Paulo
  • Alexandre Luiz Affonso Fonseca Laboratório de Análises Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP
  • Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca Laboratório de Análises Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP/ Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP - Diadema, São Paulo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7322/jhgd.v29.9415

Keywords:

neonatal death, low birth weight newborn, maternal age

Abstract

Introduction: One of the main health indicators is infant mortality rate, which is a metric of living conditions and population development. The goal of reducing neonatal mortality requires an adequate knowledge of the real factors at each level of health care so that maternal and human resources are efficiently channeled to the constraint. Countries that have paid special attention to improving health services for the entire pregnancy-puerperal cycle have attained the reduction of infant mortality, especially early neonatal mortality. Objective: The present study aims to describe the profile and analyze the risk factors associated with neonatal mortality in the Angolan context at a tertiary level public maternity hospital, located in Luanda. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, using secondary data, of provincial base in hospital and ministerial registry instruments from January to December 2012. Results: The results show that the neonatal deaths are not mere occurrences, since they indicate failures of the political powers, professionals of the health system and of the families. Conclusions: This study suggests that the major risk factor for birth mortality in Luanda is the type of delivery (c-section) and that this data is not related to the age of the mother or to premature birth. We also found that there was higher mortality between May and July, during the period of lower rainfall index in the region. However, further studies are needed that may provide a logical framework and arguments for realistic policies to mitigate neonatal mortality.

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Published

2019-11-05

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 2 (2019)

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLES