EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OVERVIEW OF DEATHS FROM BACTERIAL SEPTICEMIA IN NEWBORNS AND THEIR RISK FACTORS IN THE NORTHERN REGION

Abstract

Bacterial neonatal sepsis is an important cause of preventable and neglected death in Brazil, especially in the North Region. The study aims to describe the number of deaths from bacterial septicemia in newborns in the North Region, relating them to birth weight, gestational age and type of delivery. It is an ecological, quantitative, and descriptive study, which used data from DATASUS in the North Region from 2013 to 2022, in the age groups 0-6 days and 7-27 days and the number of deaths from bacterial neonatal sepsis. A total of 3549 deaths of neonates due to bacterial septicemia were identified in the North Region, most of them in the state of Pará. There were 2077 deaths in the age group from 0 to 6 days and 1472 deaths from 7 to 27 days; 923 deaths were among neonates with a body mass of 500-999g; 810 in those born from 28 to 31 weeks of gestational age; and 1874 deaths in those born vaginally. Therefore, the reduction in the number of cases of death from bacterial neonatal sepsis is evident, however, they are more prevalent in the North in those born weighing 500 to 999g, vaginal delivery and premature infants.