OBJECTIVE: To compare data related to prenatal care, deliveries and newborns from Campinas, Brazil, in 2001 and 2005. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed 13,656 Live Birth Certificates from 2005, comparing them to of 2001. The analyzed variables were: place of birth and dwelling, maternal age, marital status, schooling, number of births, number of prenatal consultations, mode of delivery, length of pregnancy and birthweight. Association between variables was evaluated by the chi-square test, being significant p<0.05. RESULTS: In 2005, there was a decrease in the number of newborns from Health Districts with worse living conditions in comparison to 2001. The rate of teenage pregnancies varied from 17.7% in 2001 to 14.7% in 2005. Working mothers were 42.9% of the sample in 2005 and 39.4% in 2001. In 2005, single mothers were 54.3% compared to 35.9% in 2001. Mothers with seven or less years of schooling were 37.8% in 2001, compared to 25.7% in 2005. In 2005, 86.6% of mothers had more than six prenatal visits compared to 74.4% in 2001. There was an increase in the rates of cesarean section (from 54.9% in 2001 to 60.3% in 2005) and prematurity (from 7.1% in 2001 to 8.9% in 2005). No significant changes in birthweight were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a decrease in the rate of births in the Health Districts with worse conditions of living and in teenage pregnancies. Rates of working mothers, single mothers, years of schooling, number of prenatal consultations increased.
birth certificate; maternal and child health; live birth
