OBJECTIVES: to analyze household post neonatal infant mortality occurring in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. METHODS:post neonatal deaths due to diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition were selected between May 1991 and April 1992. Following hospital investigation, 511 deaths were identified and 396 were included in the study. It was noted that 34,3% of infant deaths occurred out of the hospital. After hospital investigation and interviews with the children's families, household deaths were compared to those occurring in hospitals. RESULTS: comparisons indicated that both groups were similar in terms of socioeconomic variables, gestation, childbirth conditions and health status. The multivariate analysis indicated that only the number of health services visited in the last 15 days was associated to place of death, with a 2,5 times risk of dying out of the hospital for children whose families procured less than three healthcare facilities (OR = 2,53). Medical assistance, provided by medical services two weeks prior to death showed that inadequate clinical management was also associated to household death (OR = 1,78). CONCLUSIONS: household infant deaths were associated to the low quality medical services provided by healthcare facilities.
Infant mortality; Quality of health care; Services evaluation
