Spatial analysis of inequalities in fetal and infant mortality due to avoidable causes.

OBJECTIVES to analyze social inequalities in spatial distribution of fetal and infant mortality by avoidable causes and identify the areas of greater risk of occurrence. METHODS avoidable deaths of fetal and infant residents of Recife/Brazil were studied. The rates of avoidable fetal and infant mortality were calculated for two five-year periods, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015. The scan statistics was used for spatial analysis and related to the social deprivation index. RESULTS out of the total 2,210 fetal deaths, 80% were preventable. Avoidable fetal mortality rates increased by 8.1% in the five-year periods. Of the 2,846 infant deaths, 74% were avoidable, and the infant mortality rate reduced by 0.13%. CONCLUSIONS in the spatial analysis, were identified clusters with higher risk for deaths. The social deprivation index showed sensibility with areas of worse living conditions.