EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADEQUATE CARE FOR WOMEN DURING CHILDBIRTH AND PREVENTABLE NEONATAL MORTALITY IN BRAZIL: AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS FROM 2018 TO 2022

Abstract

Preventable neonatal mortality is a critical public health challenge, representing deaths of newborns that could have been prevented with adequate care during childbirth and in the early days of life. This study, a time-series design, utilized secondary data from the Mortality Information System (SIM/DATASUS) from 2018 to 2022, focusing on newborns up to 27 days who died due to avoidable causes resulting from inadequate care during childbirth. A total of 15,554 cases were identified in Brazil, highlighting significant regional disparities, with the North region recording the highest mortality rate. These findings underscore the importance of implementing obstetric best practices and strategies tailored to regional realities to reduce neonatal mortality. Investments in maternal and neonatal health are crucial for improving health outcomes, especially in regions facing greater challenges. Therefore, the need for region-specific health policies to effectively address the persistent challenge of preventable neonatal mortality is emphasized.