Analysis of maternal mortality in the municipality of Governador Valadares, 2002-2004

Abstract

This work aims to study the maternal mortality and the quality of the information contained in Death Certificates issued in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais. This descriptive study used data of the System of Information in Mortality, of the Live Births Information System, and of the information records of the Committee for the Prevention of Maternal Mortality between 2002 and 2004. In order to understand the events (deaths), the care pathway was reconstructed, using the process flow chart analysis. When recalculating the Maternal Mortality Rate in the municipal district, we detected an increase of the MMR ratio from 24, 2 deaths per 1000 (one thousand) live births, to 36, 2 deaths per 1000 (one thousand) live births. Among the causes of death, 80 percent was due to a direct cause, mainly abortions. The care pathway analysis detected flaws in antenatal and health assistance (late diagnosis, lack of use of available technology), calling attention the event's avoidability and its underreporting.