[Intentional search and reclassification of maternal deaths: quality information and its analysis to reduce maternal mortalityBusca intencional e reclassificação de mortes maternas: informação de qualidade e sua análise para reduzir a mortalidade materna].

Objective: To describe the methodology of the intentional search and reclassification of maternal deaths (BIRMM, acronym in Spanish), which allows the identification and correction of misclassification and underreporting of maternal deaths.

Methods: The BIRMM methodology, initially developed in Mexico in 2003 and disseminated in other Latin American countries since 2012, was used. BIRMM consists of four key components: i) reclassification of confirmed maternal deaths; ii) identification and investigation of suspected cases of maternal death; iii) cross-referencing with other information sources; and iv) publication of results and statistical analysis.

[Intentional search and reclassification of maternal deaths in Mexico: The effect on the distribution of causes].

Objective: To correct the misclassification and improve the quality of information on maternal mortality in Mexico.

Materials And Methods: Using clinical records and verbal autopsies, we studied all deaths certified as maternal deaths as well as a selection of deaths of women of childbearing age whose causes were considered as suspected of hiding a maternal death, all of which occurred during 2011 within Mexico.

Results: The deliberate search of maternal deaths and reclassification allowed the rescue of just over 100 deaths that were not originally registered or coded as maternal and confirmed or corrected the causes of death recorded on death certificates as confirmed maternal deaths.

[Underreporting of deaths in children and birth certification in a representative sample of the 101 municipalities with lowest human development index in Mexico].

Objective: To measure the underregistry of mortality in children under five years old, and the coverage of the Birth Certificate (BC) in municipalities with very low human development index (HDI) in Mexico.

Materials And Methods: We studied all deaths of children under five years old occurred in 2007 and all births occurred in 2007 and 2008 in a sample of 20 municipalities with very low HDI in Mexico. We conducted an intentional search of births and deaths.