The aim of this study was to analyze maternal and child health indicators and infant mortality rate (IMR) at the cities located\r\nat the 18th Health Division (HD) in Parana State, Brazil. In this ecological study we analyzed all live births and infant deaths\r\nwhich occurred from 2000 to 2009 at the 18th HD, collecting data from the Mortality Information Database and the Live Births\r\nInformation Database. The variables assessed were grouped into maternal, pregnancy and delivery, and neonatal variables. The\r\nanalysis was conducted using themean percentage of each variable and the IMR calculated for both periods: from 2000 to 2004 and\r\nfrom 2005 to 2009.The IMR was reduced considerably, following Brazilâ��s and Paran�´a Stateâ��s trend. Maternal indicators went down\r\nregarding the mean percentage of teenage mothers and low education, whereas they went up regardingmother with 35 years old or\r\nolder and mothers without a partner. Pregnancy indicators showed increased prematurity and cesarean birth. Neonatal indicators\r\nraised in black/brown skin color and low birth weights percentages. This study provides a better understanding of maternal and\r\nchild health in the cities located at the 18th HD, supplying grounds to plan actions regarding the real needs of each specific city.
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