This study aims to evaluate the treatment of children and mothers in basic health units based on the investigation of deaths in children under five years. This is an evaluative study, that analyzed 41 deaths ocurred in 2008 in the city of Maringá, state of Paraná, Brasil. 90.2% of these deaths were preventable. 38.5% of the pregnant women had their first prenatal consultation in the first quarter of pregnancy. 50.0% had more than six consultations. 73.1% were assessed for risk pregnancy. 34.6% of chart records had information on prenatal laboratory tests. 50.0% of births occurred by cesarean section. 87.5% of charts contained records of child growth monitoring and risk assessment of newborns. None had records of neuromotor development. 50.0% had complete vaccination records. 75.0% received home visits from a family healthcare team. All children at low risk had three visits to doctors. Only one high-risk newborn reached seven medical consultations. The conclusion is that there are failures in the professional records of prenatal care, as well as in the quality of monitoring of children considered at risk.
Health evaluation; Sentinel surveillance; Primary health care
