OBJECTIVES: to analyze the evolution of the leading causes of post-neonatal mortality by underlying cause of death in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil, between 1996 and 2004. METHODS: causes of death were grouped according to the chapters of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th review (ICD-10) and an abbreviated ICD-10 list. Diarrhea, pneumonia, malnutrition and septicemia were analyzed in a specific group for avoidable causes. Rates and proportional mortality by cause were calculated for three-year periods. RESULTS: 2,010 post-neonatal deaths were registered in the period, and the tendency was for the number to decrease. Infant mortality rate dropped from 26.6 to 13.3/1000 live births (LB), and post-neonatal from 8.6 to 4.3/1000 LB between 1996 and 2004. Mortality rates from both respiratory and infectious diseases were down 60%. However, the diarrhea-pneumonia-malnutrition-septicemia group was still responsible for a quarter of all deaths in 2002-2004. Congenital malformations have become the leading post-neonatal cause of death, along with perinatal conditions, responsible for 34% of deaths. In addition, an increase in the proportion of mortality accounted for by injuries and ill-defined causes was observed. CONCLUSIONS: a change was observed in the profile of the causes of post-neonatal mortality in Belo Horizonte, with an increase in the risk of death from congenital anomalies and perinatal conditions. This increase may be a consequence of displacement of neonatal deaths to the postneonatal component.
Infant mortality; Causes of death
