Caracterização das internações de crianças menores de cinco anos no estado do Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

Introduction: Knowledge of hospitalizations, their causes and other parameters in children under five years of age is important for understanding the morbidity and repercussions of illness in the public network. Objective: To analyze the causes of hospital admissions in the Unified Health System in children under five years of age in the state of Rio Grande do Norte from 2013 to 2022. Methodology: This is an ecological study in time series, with a quantitative and retrospective approach. Data were collected from DATASUS in RN and the Health Regions. The causes of hospitalizations were analyzed using the ICD-10 chapters. Subsequently, the data were subjected to descriptive and statistical analysis using SPSS software. Results: The three main causes of hospitalization were related to conditions originating in the perinatal period (23.9%), diseases of the respiratory system (22.6%) and infectious and parasitic diseases (19.9%). The years 2020 and 2022 represented the lowest (11,908) and highest (16,393) numbers of hospitalizations, respectively. The highest average value per hospitalization was associated with ear and mastoid apophysis diseases (R$ 23,577.49). The highest average lengths of stay are related to hospitalizations due to pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period (12.4 days) and conditions originating in the perinatal period (12.3 days). Final Considerations: The available data may support new questions and the planning of strategic means to confront relevant findings in public health and the development of the state's maternal and child network.