RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze some variables found in the Birth Certificates at the Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco, Recife, from July 1991 to December 2000, according to Sinasc (National Information's data base of Births). METHODS: The statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test for trend (p<0.05) on EpiInfo software (version 6.0), considering the years 1993 to 2000. RESULTS: The sample comprised a predominance of non-surgical deliveries, adequate gestational age of newborns, weight > 2500 g, Apgar score 1st min and 5th min between 8-10 and mature mothers who had attended from 4 to 6 appointments at prenatal care system. It showed the following rates: cesarean-section of 29.4% to 35.2% (chi2 = 73.7; p<0.01), low weight at birth of 15.9% to 22.8% (chi2 = 170.6; p < 0.01); premature newborns of 9.7% to 23.8% (chi2 = 503.6; p<0.01); teenage mothers of 24.1% to 28.8% (chi2 = 13.3; p<0.01), moreover a high percentage of newborns with Apgar index lower than 3 at the 1st minute (3.4% to 5.%) and (0.7% to 1.6%) at the 5th minute. CONCLUSION: These results confirm the role of IMIP as an institution for referral of high-risk pregnancies in Pernambuco.