Mortalidade infantil: percepções de gestores e profissionais acerca das ações e políticas de saúde direcionada à mulher e à criança em Governador Valadares/MG

Abstract

Child mortality is an indicator of health and living conditions, as it expresses not only biological causes, but also socioeconomic and environmental determinations and the health of women and children, constituting a sentinel event due to its avoidability. Its reduction depends on the effective improvement in living conditions and public health policies. Failures in care for pregnant women, childbirth and newborns are particularly relevant in the occurrence of deaths in the first year of life. This study aimed to analyze the perception of managers and health professionals about the causes and possible actions to face child mortality directed at the maternal and child population performed in the Primary Health Care of Governador Valadares. Methodology: This is a descriptive study of qualitative approach, using the case study method. Data collection was performed through 21 semi-structured interviews. The unit of analysis was the health professionals and managers responsible for the health care of women and children of the Municipal Health Department. For data analysis was used de content analysis according to Bardin 2011. The data were organized into 3 categories and 2 subcategories. The results showed the lack of knowledge of managers and health professionals about the infant mortality rates of the municipality, the incipient presence of discussion of the subject in the management and primary health care units, the need for an approach between the prevention committee of maternal, child and fetal mortality with primary health care professionals. It is concluded that in the perception of managers and health professionals of primary care, child death is a distant event from professional daily life, unaware of the rates of the municipality and its main causes, so the discussion on the subject is so fragile. The non-appropriation of this indicator as a health management instrument was observed, but all recognize the importance of the indicator.