Resumo Introdução A mortalidade infantil ainda representa um desafio para os países em desenvolvimento. Objetivo Analisar a tendência da mortalidade infantil e seus componentes nos estados do Nordeste brasileiro entre 2001 e 2015. Método Estudo ecológico envolvendo quatro indicadores de mortalidade infantil: geral, neonatal precoce, neonatal tardia e pós-neonatal. Foi aplicado o modelo de regressão por pontos de inflexão (joinpoint regression). A tendência foi classificada em crescente, decrescente ou estacionária. Calculou-se o Percentual de Variação Anual (APC, Annual Percent Change), considerando Intervalo de Confiança de 95%. Resultados Foi observada tendência decrescente da mortalidade infantil geral no Nordeste (-3,9%) e em todos os estados, sendo Pernambuco com maior redução (-5,2%). Na mortalidade neonatal precoce, somente o Maranhão apresentou tendência estacionária (-0,2%). Na mortalidade neonatal tardia, Maranhão, Piauí, Paraíba e Sergipe apresentaram padrão estacionário. A mortalidade pós-neonatal foi a que apresentou maior redução, tendo destaque Alagoas (-8,6%) e Pernambuco (-7,6%). No Nordeste, esse componente apresentou variação anual de -6,1%. A partir do final da primeira década, a mortalidade pós-neonatal apresentou padrão estacionário no Nordeste, destacando-se Maranhão, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte e Sergipe. Conclusão Embora tenha sido verificada redução da mortalidade infantil no Nordeste do Brasil, o comportamento estacionário em alguns estados configura motivo de preocupação, tendo em vista que os valores ainda são muito elevados quando comparados aos de locais desenvolvidos.

Abstract Background Infant mortality still represents a challenge for developing countries. Objective To assess the infant mortality trend and its components in the Brazilian Northeast states between 2001 and 2015. Method Ecological study consisting of four indicators of infant mortality were analyzed as following: general, early neonatal, late neonatal and post-neonatal mortalities. A regression analysis was applied to fit the inflection point (joinpoint regression). The trends were classified as increasing, decreasing or stationary. The Annual Percent Change (APC) was calculated considering a 95% confidence interval. Results Decreasing trend of overall infant mortality in the Northeast region (-3.9%) could be measured; the state of Pernambuco showed the greatest reduction (-5.2%). Regarding the early neonatal mortality, only the state of Maranhão showed stationary trends (-0.2%). With respect to the late neonatal mortality, the states of Maranhão, Piauí, Paraíba and Sergipe showed stationary pattern. The post-neonatal mortality presented the greatest reduction, being highlighted the values of this significant reduction in the states of Alagoas (-8.6) and Pernambuco (-7.6). Considering the entire region, this component showed an APC of -6.1%. At the end of the first decade, post-neonatal mortality showed a stationary pattern over the Northeast region, with the highest values in the states of Maranhão, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe. Conclusion Although it has been a reduction in infant mortality in Northeastern Brazil, the stationary pattern in some states produced reasons for concern, considering that rates are still very elevated when compared to developed areas.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae.This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological, temporal, and spatial dynamics ofleprosy in a municipality in northeastern Brazil. METHODS: This is an ecological study on new leprosy cases in the population of Arapiraca (Alagoas, Northeast Region, Brazil), from 2008 to 2017. Data extracted from a national database were analyzed forepidemiological indicators, factors associated with physical disabilities, and spatialanalysis in the neighborhoods of Arapiraca. RESULTS: A total of 292 new cases of leprosy were recorded, particularly occurring among the following groups: women, the age group of 46-59 years, brown-skinned individuals, people with less than eight years of schooling, and urban residents; the new cases were also predominantly the tuberculoid form and were of the paucibacillary classification of the disease. Almost 1/3 of the people had some degree of physical disability, which was mainly associated with the group 60 years of age and older, black ethnicity, and the multibacillary clinical form of leprosy. The joinpoint regression showed a stationary temporal behavior of indicators. There was a heterogeneous spatial distribution with active transmission areas, especially in the neighborhoods Primavera, Baixão, Ouro Preto, and downtown. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological indicators revealed complexity in the process of leprosy development. These spatial and temporal studies are relevant to help in the planning, monitoring, and guidance of interventions in the municipality. The spatial analysis showed heterogeneous distribution in the analyzed neighborhoods.