[Spatial analysis of neonatal mortality in Paraíba Valley, Southeastern Brazil, 1999 to 2001].

Objective: To assess the spatial distribution of neonatal mortality.

Methods: An ecological and exploratory study using a spatial distribution of mortality data approach was carried out in the Paraiba Valley, Southeastern Brazil, from 1999-2001. Spatial analysis was conducted in a georeference database for 35 cities in the region and routines of spatial statistics. Mortality data were obtained from the State of São Paulo Health Department. The following variables were analyzed in this study: early, late and total neonatal mortality rates; and Human Development Index (HDI) values per city in 2000. Spatial dependency was measured using global Moran's Coefficients and local Moran's Index. A correlation analysis between variables was also conducted.

Results: There were 111,574 newborns with 1,149 deaths in the early neonatal period (10.29/1,000 newborns), 285 in the late neonatal period (2.5/1,000 newborns) totalizing 1,434 neonatal deaths (12.85/1,000 newborns). Estimated global Moran's coefficients showed statistical significance (p<005) for early and total neonatal mortality. Local Moran's index values showed clusters of municipalities for early and total neonatal mortalities rates.

Conclusions: Spatial analysis allowed to identifying spatial clusters for early and total neonatal mortality rates in the central area of the Paraiba Valley.