[Use of vital data to estimate mortality indicators in Brazil: from the active search for events to the development of methods].

The article addresses Brazil's historical development in the use of vital data, incorporating procedures for the evaluation of such data and research with active search of births and deaths, resulting in the proposal of methods for calculating birth and mortality indicators through the use of continuous records. In addition to research to capture vital events from the years 2000 and 2008, the article presents procedures for the correction of events reported to the information systems and the paradigm shift in the method for calculating mortality indicators, resulting from such initiatives. The study also features advances in the adequacy of information on deaths and live births in Brazil, changes in the estimates on infant mortality resulting from the proposed methods, and the challenge of estimating the indicator for subnational geographic areas with lower population contingents, mostly consisting of municipalities (counties) with low and irregular data coverage.