Geographic distribution of live births and infant mortality from congenital anomalies in Brazil, 2012-2017

In the period 2010-2014, the average prevalence of congenital anomalies (CA) in the world was estimated at 398/10,000 births. CA are an important cause of mortality, disability and comorbidity. Thus, the present study aims to describe the geographical and temporal distributions of live births and infant mortality (IM) by CA (IM-CA) in Brazil, from 2012 to 2017. The data used in this study are available at the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS). The prevalence of CA at birth was 81.67/10,000 (95% CI 80.46-82.88), and the IM-CA rate was 27.97/10,000 (95% CI 27.95-28.00) in the studied period.The five CA with the highest rates were polydactyly (9.66/10,000, 95% CI 6.10-9.82), Down syndrome (3.40/10,000, 95% CI 3.41-5.99), microcephaly (2.92/10,000, 95% CI 2.91-3.12), hydrocephalus (2.72/10,000, 95% CI 2.65-2.90), and spina bifida (2.44/10,000, 95% CI 2.43-2.64). Sao Paulo was the Brazilian state with the highest CA birth rate (119.3/10,000), and Amazonas was the state with the highest IM-CA rate (33.8/10,000). The description and analysis of data such as those carried out in this work are relevant to health systems and can be of great use in the formulation of public health campaigns and policies, in addition to informing and educating professionals and the population.The management of clinical actions must consider all social, economic, geographic and epidemiological factors. The description and analysis of data such as those carried out in this work are relevant to health systems and can be of great use in the formulation of public health campaigns and policies, in addition to informing and educating professionals and the population. The management of clinical actions must consider all social, economic, geographic and epidemiological factors. The description and analysis of data such as those carried out in this work are relevant to health systems and can be of great use in the formulation of public health campaigns and policies, in addition to informing and educating professionals and the population.The management of clinical actions must consider all social, economic, geographic and epidemiological factors.