Assessing the completeness of investigation records of infant deaths in Recife-PE, 2014

Abstract Background The investigation of child deaths performed through specific files, contributes to the availability of information on the occurrence of such events. Assessments on these instruments are scarce in the country, limiting the use of such information in the development of public policies aimed at reducing child mortality. Objective To evaluate the completeness of variables in child death investigation records by mortality age group, in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Method The completion of 183 child deaths investigation records was analyzed, mainly of mothers living in this capital, by the proportion of ignored or blank fields of the 123 variables contained in seven blocks of the research records and by age group (early neonatal, late neonatal, and post-neonatal). Results The average of overall file completion was 85.5% (regular), with higher completeness in the neonatal component, late (88.4%) as early (85.9%) and worse in the post-neonatal period (80.7%). The identification of variable blocks had the highest completeness (98.3% = excellent), while the care of children and previous diseases was the lowest (68.6% = poor). Conclusion There is a regular completeness of variables in child death investigation records; however, the essential information to clarify death circumstances was poorly completed.

【摘要】
背景：通过专项文件开展的儿童死亡调查记录（child death investigation records），可为该类事件发生情况的信息归集提供支撑。目前该国针对此类调查工具的评估较为匮乏，这限制了相关信息在制定旨在降低儿童死亡率的公共政策中的应用。
目的：评估巴西伯南布哥州（Pernambuco）累西腓市（Recife）不同死亡年龄组（mortality age group）的儿童死亡调查记录中各项变量的填写完整率。
方法：分析183份儿童死亡调查记录（调查对象主要为居住在该州首府的母亲），从研究记录七个模块所包含的123项变量的未填报或空白字段占比，以及年龄组（早期新生儿期（early neonatal）、晚期新生儿期、新生儿后期）两个维度展开分析。
结果：文件整体平均填写完整率为85.5%，属于一般水平；新生儿相关组分的填写完整率较高，晚期新生儿期为88.4%，早期新生儿期为85.9%，新生儿后期的完整率最低，为80.7%。其中变量模块中，身份识别模块的填写完整率最高（98.3%，优秀），而儿童照护与既往疾病史模块的完整率最低（68.6%，较差）。
结论：儿童死亡调查记录的变量整体填写完整率处于一般水平，但用于明确死亡相关情形的核心信息填写质量较差。