[Probabilistic record linkage: recovery of data on infant deaths and stillbirths in Maranhão State, Brazil]. / Relacionamento probabilístico: recuperação de informações de óbitos infantis e natimortos em localidade no Maranhão, Brasil.

This study used probabilistic record linkage to estimate underreporting of stillbirths and infant deaths in Maranhão State, Northeast Brazil, in 2008. Records were linked between the Hospital Information System (SIH) (N = 374,418) and the Mortality Information System (SIM) (N = 26,597), using data extraction, identification, and processing software. Under-recording rates were 9.7% for stillbirths, 12% for neonatal deaths, and 5.3% for post-neonatal deaths. In the larger municipalities, the correction of the infant mortality rate was greater than 19%. The superiority of information on infant deaths in the SIH (as compared to the SIM) was 6.5% in municipalities with < 25 thousand inhabitants, 2% in municipalities with 25-80 thousand inhabitants, and 8.3% in those with > 80 thousand inhabitants. Inconsistencies involved non-completion of items/variables, discordant data on the same event, and in some cases even total absence of death records. The method proved useful for retrieving mortality data for the SIM from the SIH.

Relacionamento probabilístico: recuperação de informações de óbitos infantis e natimortos em localidade no Maranhão, Brasil / Probabilistic record linkage: recovery of data on infant deaths and stillbirths in Maranhão State, Brazil

Neste estudo utilizou-se método do relacionamento probabilístico de registros para estimar o sub-registro das informações sobre natimortos e óbitos infantis no Estado do Maranhão, Nordeste do Brasil, em 2008. Relacionaram-se os registros do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH) (N = 374.418) e do Sistema de Informações de Mortalidade (SIM) (N = 26.597), com utilização de softwares para extração, identificação e processamento dos dados. Observou-se sub-registro de 9,7 por cento de natimortos, 12,0 por cento de óbitos neonatais e 5,3 por cento de pós-neonatais. Nos municípios maiores a correção do coeficiente de mortalidade infantil foi superior a 19 por cento. A superioridade de informações de óbitos infantis do SIH foi de 6,5 por cento (municípios < 25 mil habitantes), 2,0 por cento (municípios de 25-80 mil habitantes) e 8,3 por cento (municípios > 80 mil habitantes). As inconsistências ocorreram por não preenchimento de variáveis, informações discordantes para um mesmo evento e ausência completa de registro do óbito. O método utilizado mostrou-se útil para recuperação de dados de óbitos para o SIM a partir do SIH.

This study used probabilistic record linkage to estimate underreporting of stillbirths and infant deaths in Maranhão State, Northeast Brazil, in 2008. Records were linked between the Hospital Information System (SIH) (N = 374,418) and the Mortality Information System (SIM) (N = 26,597), using data extraction, identification, and processing software. Under-recording rates were 9.7 percent for stillbirths, 12 percent for neonatal deaths, and 5.3 percent for post-neonatal deaths. In the larger municipalities, the correction of the infant mortality rate was greater than 19 percent. The superiority of information on infant deaths in the SIH (as compared to the SIM) was 6.5 percent in municipalities with < 25 thousand inhabitants, 2 percent in municipalities with 25-80 thousand inhabitants, and 8.3 percent in those with > 80 thousand inhabitants. Inconsistencies involved non-completion of items/variables, discordant data on the same event, and in some cases even total absence of death records. The method proved useful for retrieving mortality data for the SIM from the SIH.