OBJECTIVES: to assess the Infant Morbidity and Mortality Surveillance Action implemented at the São Marcos Public Healthcare Center (HC) and to determine the association - low birth weight newborns (LBWN), illiterate and/or adolescent mothers - and variables, such as growth and breastfeeding. METHODS: prospective cohort analytical study. Infants at risk, born from January 1996 to December 1998, were compared with controls. Following a 12-month period growth and breast-feeding duration were analyzed. RESULTS: 199 infants at risk were identified. 131 infants at risk and 88 controls were followed up. There was no difference in breast-feeding duration between the groups. By the end of the follow-up period, the LBWN presented lower weight and height values (p < 0,01). There were 17 deaths, most of them in the neonatal period. The relative death risk for LBWN in the first year was 69,81. CONCLUSIONS: the Action represented a development in implementing strategies to identify, bring in and follow up children at risk. However, efforts must be made through an earlier and broader initiative primarily targeted at LBWN.
Maternal and child health; Infant mortality; Infant; low birth weight; Risk groups
