Maternal Mortality Ratio in Brazil: Impact of the Pandemic in the Incremental, Progressive and Regression Phases
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36489/saudecoletiva.2025v16i103p18256-18271Keywords:
Maternal mortality, COVID-19, Health inequalities, Women's healthAbstract
Objective: To analyze the maternal mortality profile in Brazil in three phases: incremental (2018-2019), pandemic progression (2020-2021), and regression (2022-2023). Method: This is an ecological study based on data from the Mortality Information System and the Live Birth Information System. Maternal mortality ratios were calculated according to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Result: Between the incremental and pandemic phases, the maternal mortality ratio increased by 67.11%, especially among women in the South region (+97.83%), white and Asian women (>85%), aged 20-34 (+73.93%), and with higher education (+121.3%). Indirect obstetric causes, especially complications classified as "medical and surgical care" (ICD-10), predominated during the period. Despite the reduction in regression, the indicators remained close to initial levels. Conclusion: The pandemic represented a significant setback in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, reinforcing the need for intersectoral policies that reduce structural inequalities and expand qualified access to maternal health services.
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