Effect of the Family Health Strategy on surveillance of infant mortality.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of the Family Health Strategy on infant mortality surveillance. METHODS An ecologic study was performed with a multiple group design, and the unit of analysis was municipalities in Bahia state (Northeastern Brazil) in 2008. The 3,947 deaths analyzed were obtained from the Mortality Information System, and the minimum acceptable level for death investigation was 25%. Logistic regression models were used for bivariate and multivariate analysis and adjusted for sociodemographic and service organization variables. RESULTS In 48.9% of the municipalities at least one infant death was investigated, and 35.5% of municipalities achieved the minimum target for investigation. In the bivariate model, the investigation of at least one infant death was statistically associated with more populous municipalities, higher Human Development Indices, existence of Investigation Committee and obstetric beds in the municipality; there were no associations with Family Health Strategy coverage and existence of a designated person in the municipality. In multivariate models, the investigation of at least one infant death was statistically associated with population size (OR = 4.02) and presence of obstetric beds (OR = 2.68). Achieving the minimum target was associated only with the existence of obstetric beds in the municipality (OR = 1.76). CONCLUSIONS The investigation rate for deaths of children less than one year of age was less than the level agreed upon in Bahia in 2008. There was no association between coverage of the Family Health Strategy and death investigations, which suggests that Infant Mortality Surveillance is at an incipient stage, especially in regards to decentralization to local primary care teams.