Trend in mortality due to ill-defined causes in the state of Tocantins and in its capital Palmas, Brazil, 1998-2014^*

Abstract

Objective:

to evaluate the time trend of proportional mortality due to ill-defined causes, in Tocantins and Palmas, Brazil, 1998-2014.

Methods:

this was a time trend study using data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and the Death Verification Service (SVO); we evaluated the time trend of this type of this mortality using Joinpoint Regression.

Results:

between 1998 and 2014, proportional mortality from ill-defined causes fell 88.5% in Tocantins and 88.1% in Palmas; the trend test indicated statistically significant inflection points in 1998-2004 (-4.14; p=0.001) for Tocantins and in 1998-2000 (-7.92; p<0.005) for Palmas; a certain degree of stability was observed with effect from 2004.

Conclusion:

there was a significant decline in proportional mortality due to ill-defined causes in Tocantins; however, it is still necessary to intensify actions aimed at improving the quality of information on mortality in some municipalities.

Keywords:
Mortality; Cause of Death; Time Series Studies