OBJECTIVES: to study the relationship between the coefficient of infant mortality (CIM) due to infectious and parasitic diseases (IPD) and the social need indicator, thereby identifying geographical areas at greater risk in the municipality of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: an ecological study was carried out, in which the units of analysis were the districts of the municipality. The mortality and live birth information systems of the Ministry of Health were used to calculate the CIM/IPD, and the social need indicator was established using socioeconomic data from the 2000 census. RESULTS: the CIM/IPD was 3.56 per 1000 live births and the postnatal mortality coefficient was 3.39 per 1000 live births. There was a correlation between the social need indicator and the CIM/IPD (r=0.87; p=0.008; F=12.88). It was found that there was 48% greater risk of dying from infectious and parasitic diseases before reaching one year of age (RR=1.479) among the children in the stratum of greatest social need. CONCLUSIONS: the social need indicator is a useful instrument for planning local healthcare actions and helps with the adoption measures that bring about a reduction in infant mortality. However, this should not direct attention away from the development of adequate social and economic policies for needier areas.
Infant mortality; Parasitic diseases; Health inequalities; Social conditions
