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.背景：通过专项文件开展的儿童死亡调查，可为该类事件的发生情况提供信息支撑。当前该国针对此类调查工具的评估研究较为匮乏，限制了该类信息在制定降低儿童死亡率公共政策中的应用。 目的：评估巴西伯南布哥州（Pernambuco）累西腓市（Recife）不同死亡年龄组的儿童死亡调查记录中各变量的完整率。 方法：对183份儿童死亡调查记录进行分析，调查对象主要为居住于该首府的母亲。分析从两维度展开：一是研究记录7个模块中包含的123项变量的未填写/空白字段占比；二是按死亡年龄组（早期新生儿组、晚期新生儿组、新生儿后期组）进行分层评估。 结果：整体文件填写平均完成率为85.5%（评定等级为合格）；新生儿相关亚组完成率较高，其中晚期新生儿组为88.4%，早期新生儿组为85.9%，新生儿后期组完成情况最差，为80.7%。各模块中，变量识别模块的完成率最高（98.3%，评定等级为优秀），而儿童照护与既往疾病模块的完成率最低（68.6%，评定等级为较差）。 结论：儿童死亡调查记录的变量整体完成率处于合格水平，但用于明确死亡相关情况的核心信息填写完整度不佳。