ABSTRACT
Introduction: The plan “Every Newborn: an action plan to end preventable deaths” developed by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund has the goal of ending preventable child deaths. Objective: Analyze infant mortality rates in the municipality of Sobral, Ceará, between 2008 and 2016. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study to analyze and compare mortality rates in a middle-sized municipality. This study was made up of all infant deaths less than 1 year of age registered in the Mortality Information System. The deaths were revised and classified as preventable, ill-defined causes and other causes according to the List of Preventable Deaths through Interventions from the Unified Health System. Results: During the study period, the mortality rate varied between 8.36 and 18.93 per 1000 live births, with most infant deaths occurred during the early neonatal period (<7 days of life). Furthermore, most infant deaths were classified as preventable, between 60.0 and 78.3%. Most of the deaths were classified as preventable through adequate assistance to women during pregnancy; adequate assistance during labor; or adequate assistance to the newborn. Conclusion: It was concluded that most of the deaths on infants under 1 year of age in the municipality were preventable with adequate assistance to women during pregnancy; adequate assistance during labor; or adequate assistance to the newborn. The approach used in this study may assist in the development of health plans and programs directed to the health of women during pregnancy and to the newborn.