THE USE OF THE LINKAGE OF INFORMATION-SYS TEMS IN COHORT STUDIES OF NEONATAL-MORTALITY

The utilization of record linkage of the mortality and birth informati on systems in studies of neonatal mortality is presented. The record l inkage was used to obtain a cohort of live births and neonatal deaths in Santo Andre county, located within greater S. Paulo, in 1992. The p rocedures applied in order to avoid selection and effect biases, are d iscussed. The use of linked data allows the probabilities of neonatal deaths according to the exposure status of the variables which are reg istered on the birth certificate, and the identification of the live b orn at risk, to be calculated. Another advantage of the record linkage is the low financial cost of this type of study, because it uses info rmation already registered.