OBJECTIVE: To correlate the Apgar score, and neonatal mortality and its causes at a hospital located in the southern area of São Paulo City. METHODS: A retrospective study performed by analysis of medical charts (n=7,094) of all live newborns during the period of 2005 to 2009, with data up to 28 days of life in reference to weight, Apgar score, survival and cause of mortality. Cases were analyzed by the X² test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: In 7,094 births, there [...]