Temporal behavior of proportional mortality of fetal deaths according to underlying cause, 2011-2020.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the temporal behavior of proportional mortality of early, intermediate, and late fetal deaths between 2011 and 2020, according to underlying cause.

METHODS

Population-based study conducted with secondary data on fetal deaths recorded in the Mortality Information System for the period between 2011 and 2020.

RESULTS

The highest annual averages of proportional mortality according to the underlying cause of early, intermediate, or late fetal deaths were, respectively: fetus and newborn affected by maternal factors and complications of pregnancy, labor, and delivery (41.3%, 44.4%, and 44.0%); intrauterine hypoxia and asphyxia at birth (22.3%, 21.6%, and 22.8%); and other conditions originating in the perinatal period (28.0%, 23.4%, and 24.4%). Hypoxia and asphyxia showed a downward trend for all types of death. The group of fetuses and newborns affected by maternal factors and complications of pregnancy, labor, and delivery showed an increasing trend.

CONCLUSION

The main underlying causes of death are characterized as preventable through adequate prenatal, delivery, and newborn care, which highlights the need to improve perinatal care in order to reduce and/or prevent their occurrence.