Trend of infant mortality in cities of metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, Brazil from 1996 to 2021

Abstract The aim is to verify the trend in infant mortality (IM) and preventable infant mortality (PIM) in municipalities in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre from 1996 to 2021 and their associations with per capita public spending on health and population coverage of the Family Health Strategy (FHS). Ecological study with data from information systems: on mortality, live births, public budgets and primary health care. The deaths described in the Ministry of Health's list were considered preventable. Statistical analysis used Prais-Winsten regression. A decrease in MIE was observed in the municipalities studied with the exception of Esteio. There was an association between per capita public spending on health and the study outcomes in Novo Hamburgo, Canoas and Porto Alegre. An association was found between the FHS coverage and IM in Novo Hamburgo, Sapucaia do Sul, Canoas and Porto Alegre. PIM was associated with FHS coverage in Novo Hamburgo, Canoas and Porto Alegre. Despite the decrease in the IM and PIM coefficients, the association of this indicator was more impacted by per capita public spending on health than by the FHS population coverage.