Abstract
This study aims to analyze the spatial variations and regional inequalities in infant mortality in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study was made considering the municipal districts of the State between 2003 and 2012, through the selection of three operative dimensions of analysis: infant mortality rate (IMR) and proportion of assisted families by Family Health Teams (FHT); IMR and proportion of live births without prenatal care (LBWPC); IMR and Index of Material Deprivation (IMD). Data were collected in official secondary sources, modeled in Geographic Information System, and analyzed with descriptive and Bayesian spatial statistical. The results showed the reduction of IMR in Minas Gerais, but there are still pronounced socioeconomic regional differences, with higher rates in municipalities presenting higher IMD and LBWPC. It is observed, therefore, the need to expand and qualify access to prenatal care and interventions in the regional context in sectors not always linked to the health system, but which are essential to reducing infant mortality.
Keywords:
Infant Mortality; Health Inequalities; Prenatal Care; Spatial Analysis
