Temporal behavior of mortality proportion of fetal deaths by underlying cause, 2011-2020

• Grant number: 22/16583-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Cristina Maria Garcia de Lima Parada
• Grantee: Julia Rodrigues Soares
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems - 10th revision, fetal death is defined as the death of the product of conception before the expulsion or complete extraction of the mother's body occurs, regardless of gestational time. It can be classified as early (less than 20 weeks of gestation), intermediate (between 20 and 28 weeks) and late (after 28 weeks), or as antepartum or intrapartum, according to the period of occurrence. The main risk factors for its occurrence are: maternal infections during pregnancy; previous maternal diseases, such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity; maternal age over 35 years; congenital anomalies; asphyxia and birth trauma; placental, umbilical, amniotic or uterine complications; restriction of fetal growth; previous fetal losses; nulliparity; smoking and the absence or poor quality of prenatal care. In addition, some social factors, such as low education, non-white maternal skin color and precarious socioeconomic conditions can also influence the increase in fetal death rates. Objective: To investigate the temporal behavior of proportional mortality of fetal deaths between 2011-2020, according to their underlying cause. Methods: a descriptive, retrospective, population-based study was carried out, based on secondary data on fetal deaths recorded in the Mortality Information System (SIM). The data used in this study will refer to the decade 2011-2020. Considering the use of data in the public domain, it was not necessary to review the Ethics in Research Committee. Descriptors: fetal death, epidemiology, risk factors, Mortality Information System.