Racial Disparities and Avoidable Infant Mortality in a City of Southeastern Brazil, 2001-09

This study aims to evaluate the quality of information about race/colour (black or white) in health information systems and to analyse the causes of infant mortality in the Brazilian List of Avoidable Causes of Death by race/colour in Belo Horizonte in 2001-09. Infant deaths and live births were obtained from the Brazilian Information Systems on Mortality and Live Births. After redistribution of missing data, infant mortality rate (IMR) was estimated for blacks and whites and was stratified by birth weight. Deaths were classified in avoidable, ill-defined or non-avoidable causes. Regardless of birth weight, avoidable mortality rate was higher among black infants. Low quality of care during pregnancy and delivery was more likely among black women. Inadequate care of low-birth-weight black newborns also led to their increased risk of death. To reduce infant mortality and inequality, we must identify black infants as the most vulnerable group and increase the efficiency of health services in preventing avoidable deaths.