The use of secondary data from SIM, Sinasc, and SIH in Brazilian scientific production between 1990 and 2006: [review]

The present study describes the distribution and several of the characteristics of scientific articles published between 1990 and 2006 that describe secondary data from the Brazilian Information Systems on Mortality (SIM), from the Information System on Live Births (SINASC), and the Hospital Information System (SIH). A bibliographic search on the MEDLINE/PubMed database, using MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), called up 294 articles. We analyzed variables referring to the articles, the authors, and the periodicals in which the articles were published. The number of publications and editions in English increased fourfold during this period. There was also an increase in the number of journals studied at the researchers'host institutions, in the simultaneous use of databases and in research on non-transmittable diseases (especially from cardiovascular and external causes). The results suggest a considerable increase in Brazilian scientific production using data from SIM, SINASC, and/or SIH.