Deaths of women of reproductive age in the municipalities of Eunápolis, Porto Seguro, and Teixeira de Freitas – BA, between 2018 and 2022

Abstract

Although women constitute the majority of the Brazilian population, several epidemiological, demographic, and political factors directly and significantly influence their health, lives, and deaths — most often in a negative way. The aim of this study is to analyze the factors contributing to the deaths of women of reproductive age, based on data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) census for the years 2018–2022, specifically in the municipalities of Porto Seguro, Eunápolis, and Teixeira de Freitas, located in the extreme south of Bahia. This descriptive, cross-sectional, and observational study was conducted using secondary data on female mortality and related variables obtained from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), using information from the Mortality Information System (SIM). Population estimates were retrieved from the IBGE. Results indicate that in the municipalities analyzed, the highest crude mortality rates among women of reproductive age were observed among mixed-race women aged 40–49 years, who, paradoxically, have greater access to public healthcare services. Female mortality in reproductive age in Brazil reflects deep structural and social challenges that extend beyond the limits of public health. An intersectoral approach and the strengthening of reproductive health policies are essential steps toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring the right to health for all women.