Sociodemographic and obstetric profiles of fetal deaths due to intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia in Brazil

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the clinical and epidemiological data of mortality due to intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia in Brazil, focusing on the social determinants of the health of fetuses and pregnant women. It is an epidemiologic, quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. Its object of study was the notifications of deaths by the above-mentioned condition in Brazil between January 1996 and December 2021. The data were collected from the database of the Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM). 219.850 deaths were recorded in Brazil. The Brazilian states with a high prevalence of cases are São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Minas Gerais, and Pernambuco. The predominant social characteristics of the fetuses were male, and brown, with 500 and 999 grams. 74.25% of the deaths occurred before birth. Young pregnant women (between 15 and 29 years of age) with a medium level of education were the most predisposed. Pregnancies between 32 and 41 weeks, singleton pregnancies, and vaginal deliveries were relevant in determining mortality. 93.47% of deaths occurred in a hospital setting.