Evaluating the implementation of Information System on Live Births in municipalities of Minas Gerais, Brazil

• Published in: Cadernos de saúde pública Vol. 29; no. 10; pp. 2105 - 2118
• Main Authors: Guimarães, Eliete Albano de Azevedo, Hartz, Zulmira Maria de Araújo, Loyola Filho, Antônio Ignácio de, Meira, Antônio José de, Luz, Zélia Maria Profeta da
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01-10-2013
• Subjects: Brazil - epidemiology; Cities - statistics & numerical data; Health Information Systems - standards; Health Plan Implementation - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Information Management; Live Birth - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban Health - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 1678-4464
• DOI: 10.1590/0102-311X00116312

This study evaluated the degree of implementation of the Information System on Live Births (SINASC) and its relationship to the organizational context in municipalities (counties) of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in 2010. The sample included 132 municipalities that had healthcare facilities providing childbirth care and the decentralized SINASC. Data collection used a semi-structured questionnaire. Degree of implementation was defined by a scoring system with different weights for each indicator, according to the respective levels of importance assigned to them, using the following classification: adequate, inadequate, and critical. Data analysis used the median as the summary measure and the Pearson chi-square test for comparison of proportions. SINASC is not adequately implemented in the majority of the municipalities in the sample. Population size and quality of the municipal administration did not influence the degree of implementation. In terms of organization of information in the SINASC, the structure was evaluated as better than the process. Limitations included lack of qualified staff, unsatisfactory collection and completion of certificates of live birth, underutilization of data, and limited publication of the information.