An audit of perinatal mortality

Perinatal mortality rates are considered in the western world to be a quantitative barometer of maternity care. This 6-year prospective perinatal audit was conducted at a tertiary hospital in order to determine foetal outcome, and the common causes of foetal and early neonatal deaths. Of a total of 30,987 births, there were 469 stillbirths and 391 early neonatal deaths, giving a perinatal mortality rate of 27.7 per 1000 total births. The leading causes of stillbirths were the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, abruptio placentae, diabetes mellitus, intrapartum foetal distress and lethal congenital anomalies. Neonatal deaths were mainly due to the respiratory distress syndrome (57.8%), birth asphyxia (22.2%) and sepsis (13.5%). A dedicated medical team, including a neonatologist, to manage pre-eclampsia, and more senior obstetric involvement in the labour ward are recommended.     

Analysis of high-risk infant births and their mortality: ten years' data from chonnam national university hospital

Prematurity and low birth weight are major factors associated with neonatal morbidity and mortality, and their incidence is not decreasing despite an annual decrease in the total number of live births in Korea. The objective of this study was to establish a strategy to reduce neonatal mortality by analyzing the clinical characteristics of high-risk infant births along with their mortality and causes of death. We retrospectively surveyed the medical records of infants born at Chonnam National University Hospital and of patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for 10 years from October 1999 to December 2008. Premature and low birth weight infants were almost half of the live births, and their NICU admission rate increased with increases in the numbers of outborns and multiples. Also, their mortality decreased dramatically over the past 10 years. About 60% of deaths occurred within 1 week of life, and the causes of death were mostly related to prematurity. Perinatal asphyxia was the major cause of death in infants less than 1 week old, whereas sepsis was the major cause after 4 weeks of age. The major cause of death was sepsis in premature or low birth weight infants and perinatal asphyxia in term or normal weight infants. The major cause of death was sepsis in inborns and perinatal asphyxia in outborns. Our results suggest that medical personnel training for immediate postnatal care including neonatal resuscitation, infection control, and a systematic team approach to regionalization are all needed to reduce the mortality rate.     

Perinatal mortality rate in a south Indian population

Perinatal mortality rate was assessed for 13964 consecutive births in SAT Hospital, Trivandrum, South India, during a period of one year. The overall perinatal mortality rate was 42.75, stillbirth rate 24.41 and early neonatal mortality rate 18.79. The perinatal mortality rate in multiple pregnancy was 156.65. Preventable causes of perinatal mortality still make a major contribution to perinatal deaths in developing countries.     

Neonatal outcome at Modilon Hospital, Madang: a 5-year review

An audit of neonatal care at Modilon Hospital, Madang was performed using obstetric and neonatal data for the five years 1995-1999. The overall perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) was 51.1 per 1000 total births with an early neonatal mortality rate (ENNMR) of 12.7 and a stillbirth rate (SBR) of 38.5. 839 neonates aged 0-28 days were admitted to the Special Care Nursery. The male to female ratio was 1.3:1. 186 babies (22%) died. The case fatality rate was higher in males than females (p<0.001). Babies born at health centres or born before arrival had a significantly higher fatality rate than hospital-born babies (p<0.001). The case fatality rate was highest in babies born preterm and declined with increasing birthweight from less than 1000 to 3999 g. The major recorded causes of admission were neonatal sepsis, prematurity, neonatal jaundice, birth asphyxia, respiratory distress and meconium aspiration syndrome. 60% of deaths occurred within 48 hours of admission, 32% between 48 hours and 7 days and 8% at 7 days or older. The proportion of deaths occurring during the afternoon and night shifts was significantly higher than that during the morning shift (p<0.001). This was most likely to be related to staffing levels. The major causes of death were prematurity or low birthweight (27%), sepsis (23%) and birth asphyxia (17%). Other causes of death included congenital abnormalities, meconium aspiration and meningitis. Antenatal care is still not universally available for Papua New Guinean women. Home delivery of high-risk mothers is commonplace, and women delivering in hospital often present in established labour. Perinatal and neonatal problems are therefore frequent. Newborn babies have the right to the best available care. This can only be provided if hospitals and health facilities understand the basic requirements of neonatal care and provide designated space, adequate staffing and proper equipment.     

A perinatal perspective on South Australia in the 1980s.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in sociodemographic characteristics of mothers, their obstetric management and perinatal outcomes in the 1980s. DESIGN: A survey of data recorded in the South Australian perinatal data collection. For singleton births, we compared risks of stillbirth, neonatal death and perinatal death by year of birth, after adjusting for risk factors. SUBJECTS: There were 176,637 births of at least 400 g birthweight (or at least 20 weeks' gestation) notified to the perinatal data collection between 1981 and 1989. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of risk factors and relative risks of stillbirth, neonatal death and perinatal death by year of birth. RESULTS: There have been changes in the sociodemographic characteristics of mothers, their obstetric management and perinatal outcomes during the 1980s. Crude perinatal mortality rates have not increased, despite increases in the frequency of low birthweight, preterm births, mothers aged 35 years and over, and some other risk factors. After adjusting for risk factors, the risks of stillbirth, neonatal death and perinatal death were lower among singletons in 1987-1989 than in the 1981-1982 reference period. CONCLUSION: Advances in clinical management may be preventing increases in stillbirths, neonatal deaths and perinatal deaths in response to increased numbers of births with low birthweight, preterm delivery and some other risk factors in South Australia.     

瑞安市2003～2009年围产儿死亡影响因素分析

目的研究瑞安市2003～2009年围产儿死亡影响因素,提出有针对性的干预措施以提高围产儿出生质量。方法回顾性分析2003～2009年上报的围产儿资料及围产儿死亡资料,分析围产儿死亡率及其影响因素。结果围产儿平均死亡率为6.95‰。其中死胎、死产、早期新生儿死亡分别占68.12%、6.47%、25.41%,各年围产儿死亡率、死胎、死产率均无显著差异(P>0.05),早期新生儿死亡率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。在围产儿死亡原因中:死胎的前3位原因为先天畸形、脐带因素、死因不明;死产前3位原因为脐带因素、胎盘因素、胎儿窘迫;新生儿死亡前3位原因为早产和低体重儿、先天畸形、新生儿窒息。流动人口围产儿死亡率明显高于本地围产儿死亡率;农村户籍、低学历者、产检次数少的孕产妇,其围产儿死亡率均高于城市户籍、高学历者、产检次数多的孕产妇。随孕周的增加与胎儿体重的增长,围产儿死亡率也降低。结论加强围产期保健管理工作,做好优生优育的宣教,减少出生缺陷,进一步提高产科质量以及新生儿科医疗质量水平是降低围产儿死亡率的重要措施。     

STUDY OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT NEONATES

Low birth weight neonates with 2000g or less birth weight constitute about 10% of live births with perinatal mortality as high as 32.4%. Perinatal morbidity is 19.3% with asphyxia neonatorum and neonatal jaundice heading the list. Epidemiological maternal factors include extremes of age and parity, lack of antenatal care, low socioeconomic status, illiteracy and underweight short women. Etiologic factors are obstetric complications, hypertensive disorders, systemic diseases or idiopathic. The scope of preventive measures include improvement of economic status and education about health and safe pregnancy. Proper antenatal care for early detection of high risk cases, adequate and timely management of complications and adequate facilities for neonatal care can reduce the perinatal morbidity and mortality.KEY WORDS: Low birth weight neonates, Perinatal mortality     

A survey on the constitutional status of perinates in China

Data of all categories of birth defects among live and still births from 28 weeks of gestation to a period within 7 days after delivery were collected. During a period of 12 months (1986.10-1987.9), there were 1,243,284 perinates monitored in 945 hospitals of 29 provinces, cities and autonomous regions. Among these, 16,172 perinates were with birth defects. Altogether, 101 categories of birth defects were noted. The total incidence of the 101 categories of birth defects in China was 130.1 per 10,000. The 5 leading categories of major birth defects by frequency were: anencephaly, hydrocephaly, spina bifida, cleft lip with cleft palate, and congenital heart diseases. Perinatal deaths totaled 33,137 and the perinatal mortality was 26.7 per 10,000. Among the causes of perinatal death, congenital malformation accounted for 17.8%. There were 44,469 births (35.8%) of full-term low birth weight infants, and 1,748 of them were with birth defects. The incidence of birth defects in full-term low birth weight infants was 393.1 per 10,000.     

Perinatal and postneonatal mortality among Indigenous and non-Indigenous infants born in Western Australia, 1980-1998

OBJECTIVE: To describe cause-specific perinatal and postneonatal mortality for Indigenous and non-Indigenous infants using a new classification system. DESIGN: Total population retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: All registered births in Western Australia of birthweight greater than 399 g from 1980 to 1998, inclusive. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates and time trends for all births 1980-1998, and cause-specific rates for births 1980-1993 of fetal, neonatal and postneonatal mortality among Indigenous and non-indigenous infants, using a classification system designed for use in perinatal, postneonatal and childhood deaths. RESULTS: For Indigenous infants born 1980-1998, the mortality rate before the first birthday was 2.7 times (95% CI, 2.5-2.9 times) that for non-Indigenous infants. Indigenous infants born 1980-1993 had a higher mortality rate in all cause-of-death categories. The highest relative risk was for deaths attributable to infection (8.1; 95% CI, 6.5-10.0) which occurred primarily in the postneonatal period; the source of the infection was less likely to be identified in Indigenous deaths. From 1980-1998, the rate of neonatal deaths decreased at a greater rate for Indigenous than for non-Indigenous infants. However, while stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome rates for non-Indigenous births fell, they remained static for Indigenous births. CONCLUSIONS: The new classification system, which considers the underlying rather than immediate cause of death, enables investigation of the causes of all deaths, from stillbirths to childhood. This system has highlighted the comparative importance of infection as a cause of death for Indigenous infants, particularly in the postneonatal period.     

120例围产儿死亡分析

目的分析120例围产儿死亡原因,以改进围产期保健,提高产科质量。方法对我院1998年1月-2007年12月间围产儿死亡病例进行回顾性分析。结果期间围产儿总数为10861例,其中死亡120例,死亡率为11．05％。死亡120例中本院常规检查占46．7％（56／120）,无常规围产保健或外院检查异常转入我院占53．3％（64／120）,死胎48．3％（58／120）,死产13．3％（16／120）,新生儿死亡38．3％（46／120）;早产92例（76．7％）,足月产28例（23．3％）,先天畸形24．2％（29／120）,另有22例体重大于1500g的无畸形新生儿死亡。结论早产、先天畸形、体重过大是围产儿死亡的主要原因;加强流动人口孕产妇的孕期保健,积极进行产前诊断是减少围产儿死亡的重要途径。     

Neonatal mortality in a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria

Objective: With improved and sustained efforts in the prevention and management of pneumonia, diarrhea and vaccine preventable diseases, neonatal mortality is increasingly becoming a major contributor to childhood mortality particularly in developing countries. Evaluation of neonatal mortality pattern is an essential step in the effort to curb its incidence. We therefore, set out to determine the neonatal mortality pattern and its associated factors in a tertiary hospital in southern Nigeria. Methods: This is a retrospective study of neonatal mortality in a tertiary hospital from August 2004 to July 2007(a 3 year period). Data obtained include total live births, neonatal deaths, relevant information on pregnancy, labour and delivery, neonatal morbidity and duration of life. Results: There were a total of 3,051 live births and 44 neonatal deaths with a neonatal mortality rate of 14.4/1000 live births. Early neonatal mortality constituted 81.8%of over all neonatal mortality with the major causes being prematurity 40% severe birth asphyxia 29.5%and neonatal sepsis 18.3%. Low birth weight babies (<2500 grams) constituted 55.5% of total neonatal mortality. Conclusion: Early neonatal mortality constitutes an overwhelming proportion of neonatal mortality in Southern Nigeria. This can be significantly curtailed by reducing the incidence and death from prematurity, severe birth asphyxia and neonatal sepsis.     

71例围产儿死亡原因分析

目的：分析围产儿死亡原因,以提高围产期保健质量,降低围产儿死亡率。方法：按照围产期Ⅰ标准,对我院1992～2001年间71例住院围产儿死亡病例进行回顾性分析。结果：围产儿死亡率为11．10%,死亡原因排在前3位的是：脐带因素、畸形和早产,占同期围产儿死亡原因的49．29％;流动人口围产儿死亡率明显高于常住人口。结论：加强区域围产期保健网的作用,加强对流动人口的管理,及时发现并治疗高危妊娠是降低围产儿死亡的主要措施。     

Perinatal mortality and morbidity in caesarean section

The study was conducted on 350 babies born by caesarean section. There were 29 perinatal deaths among 350 births giving a gross perinatal mortality rate of 8.3 per 1000 live births. Corrected perinatal mortality rate was 7.1%. The stillbirth rate was 2%. It was high for cases of abruptio placentae, transverse lie and cord prolapse. Septicaemia was the commonest cause of perinatal death followed by asphyxia and prematurity. Birth weight played an important role in the survival of babies. There was no foetal loss among babies in weight group of 3501-4000 g. Perinatal morbidity was mainly due to asphyxia, septicaemia, prematurity and cord infection.     

An evaluation of poor pregnancy outcomes among Burundian refugees in Tanzania

CONTEXT: Little is known about pregnancy outcomes among the approximately 11 million refugees worldwide, 25% of whom are women of reproductive age. OBJECTIVE: To estimate incidence of and determine risk factors for poor pregnancy outcomes and to calculate the contribution of mortality from neonatal and maternal deaths to overall mortality in a refugee camp. DESIGN: Cross-sectional review of records and survey, conducted in February and March 1998. SETTING: Mtendeli refugee camp, Tanzania. PARTICIPANTS: For the overall assessment, 664 Burundi women who had a pregnancy outcome during a recent 5-month period (September 1, 1997-January 31, 1998) and their 679 infants; 538 women (81%) completed the survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of fetal death (fetus born > or =500 g or > or =22 weeks' gestation with no signs of life), low birth weight (<2500 g), neonatal death (death <28 days of life), and maternal death (deaths during or within 42 days of pregnancy from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management). RESULTS: The fetal death rate was 45.6 per 1000 births, the neonatal mortality rate was 29.3 per 1000 live births, and 22.4% of all live births were low birth weight. Compared with women without poor pregnancy outcome, those with poor pregnancy outcome were more likely to report prior high socioeconomic status (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.4), having a first or second pregnancy (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4-3.4), and having 3 or more episodes of malaria during pregnancy (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4-3.1). Neonatal and maternal deaths accounted for 16% of all deaths during the period studied. CONCLUSIONS: Poor pregnancy outcomes were common in this refugee setting, and neonatal and maternal deaths, 2 important components of reproductive health-related deaths, contributed substantially to overall mortality.     

Confidential paediatric inquiry into neonatal deaths in Wessex, 1981 and 1982

From 1 January 1981 to 31 December 1982, 66 256 births and 386 neonatal deaths were recorded in the Wessex Regional Health Authority, giving a neonatal mortality of 5.8/1000 live births. An experienced consultant paediatrician undertook a confidential inquiry into each death shortly after it had been reported. One hundred and forty four deaths (37%) were found to be due to lethal or severe malformations, an incidence of 2.2/1000 births. Of the 242 normally formed infants, 111 (46%) died within 24 hours of birth. Seventy seven (32%) weighed over 2500 g at birth. Factors operating before delivery accounted for 104 (43%) of the deaths of normally formed infants. The commonest factors were short gestation and low birth weight, and intrauterine hypoxia and birth injury. Factors after delivery accounted for 81 deaths (33%), the commonest being infections and sudden infant deaths. In the remaining 57 deaths (24%) it seemed that a combination of factors before and after birth had led to the death. Factors before birth thus played a part in two thirds of all deaths. Possible adverse factors in medical care were sought in 154 potentially viable babies and were identified in 38--that is, 10% of all neonatal deaths. Better provision and training of district staff in immediate care at birth would achieve more in lowering neonatal mortality in Wessex than the setting up of a regional unit specializing in advanced neonatal intensive care. Moreover, the greatest scope for improving the outcome of childbirth in Wessex would be offered if there were further advances in obstetric rather than neonatal care.     

236例围生儿死亡相关因素分析

目的了解住院分娩围生儿死亡情况,探讨引起围生儿死亡的相关因素。方法回顾性分析8836例围生儿的临床资料,对其中妊娠满28周至产后7d内死亡的围生儿逐一进行分类和统计学分析。结果围生儿死亡236例,病死率为26.71‰;男围生儿病死率(22.88‰)显著低于女围生儿病死率(30.63‰);农村围生儿病死率(41.79‰)显著高于城市围生儿病死率(4.97‰);初中及以下文化的产妇其围生儿病死率(28.38‰)显著高于高中及以上者(12.71‰);出生体质量<2500g的围生儿其病死率(134.88‰)显著高于出生体质量≥2500g者(13.69‰),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。围生儿死亡构成中死胎占71.19%,死产占17.79%,早期新生儿死亡占11.02%。围生儿前5位死因顺位是胎儿畸形89例(37.71%)、不明原因77例(32.63%)、宫内窘迫15例(6.36%)、脐带因素14例(5.93%)、胎盘因素12例(5.08%)。结论本地区围生儿病死率高,农村、低出生体质量者及产妇文化程度低者为甚;预防围生儿死亡形势严峻,重点在农村,主要干预措施是提高农村人口文化素质,加强婚前检查、围生期保健、产前筛查,预防畸形儿进入围生期,预防早产。     

Is perinatal care in southwestern Ontario regionalized?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether perinatal care in southwestern Ontario is regionalized, to identify trends over time in referral patterns, to quantify trends in perinatal death rates and to identify trends in perinatal death rates that give evidence of regionalization. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Thirty-two hospitals in southwestern Ontario (1 level III, 1 modified level III and 30 level II or I). PATIENTS: All pregnant women admitted to the hospitals and their infants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Antenatal and neonatal transfer status, live-born with discharge home alive from hospital of birth, stillborn, and live-born with death before discharge. RESULTS: Between 1982 and 1985 the antenatal transfer rate increased from 2.2% to 2.8% (p less than 0.003). The proportion of births of infants weighing 500 to 1499 g increased from 49% to 69% at the level III hospital. The neonatal transfer rate increased from 26.2% to 47.9% (p less than 0.05) for infants in this birth-weight category and decreased from 10.2% to 7.1% (p less than 0.03) for infants weighing 1500 to 2499 g. The death rate among infants of low birth weight was lowest among those born at the level III centre and decreased at all centres between 1982 and 1985. CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal care in southwestern Ontario is regionalized and not centralized; regionalization in southwestern Ontario increased between 1982 and 1985.     

Rural obstetrics: a 5-year prospective study of the outcomes of all pregnancies in a remote northern community.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a small, isolated hospital that has no facilities to perform cesarean section and handles fewer than 50 deliveries annually can provide acceptably safe obstetric and perinatal care. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Southern region of the Queen Charlotte Islands, BC, served by a 21-bed hospital and medical clinic in Queen Charlotte City. The hospital and clinic are staffed by five family practitioners without local obstetric, pediatric, anesthetic or surgical support. PATIENTS: All women beyond 20 weeks' gestation who gave birth from Jan. 1, 1984, to Dec. 31, 1988; 33% were primiparous and 20% native. Of the 286 women 192 (67%) delivered locally, 33 (12%) were transferred after admission because of antepartum or intrapartum complications, and 61 (21%) delivered elsewhere by choice or on their physician's recommendation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Perinatal mortality rate and adverse perinatal outcome (death, birth weight of less than 2500 g, neonatal transfer or Apgar score of less than 7 at 5 minutes). MAIN RESULTS: There were six perinatal deaths, for a perinatal mortality rate of 20.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4 to 37.2). The hospital-based rate of adverse perinatal outcome was 6.2% (12 of 193 newborns) (95% CI 2.8% to 9.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The perinatal mortality rate is not a meaningful way to assess small populations; about 85 years of data would be required to decrease the 95% CIs from within 16 to within 4. The rate of adverse perinatal outcome in our study was consistent with the rate in other studies. Collaboration of small, rural hospitals is required to increase cohort size so that the correlation between the currently accepted standard, the perinatal mortality rate, and other outcome measures can be determined.     

Perinatal mortality at the Port Moresby General Hospital and St. Therese's Maternity Hospital 1972

A study was made of the 67 still-births and the 58 neonatal deaths that occurred among the 3,516 viable infants (birth weight 1,000 g. or more) that were born to public patients of the obstetric units of Port Moresby General Hospital and St. Therese's Maternity Hospital during the year 1972. The combined stillbirth and neonatal mortality rate was 35.5 per 1,000 births. The adverse effects of lack of antenatal care, delivery outside hospital, high parity, maternal anaemia, mulitple pregnancy, and low birth weight are demonstrated. Low birth weight (1,000 to 2,200 g.) of unknown cause accounted for 24.0 per cent of the deaths. In 16,8 per cent of cases the birth weight was more than 2,200 g. and the cause of death was unknown. Birth trauma accounted for 19.2 per cent of the deaths, congenital malformation for 11.2 per cent, antepartum haemorrhage for 11.2 per cent, toxaemia for 10.4 per cent, and maternal disease for 3.2 per cent. There were miscellaneous causes in 4.0 per cent of cases. Approximately 75 per cent of the deaths were considered to be the result of unfavourable factors in the mother's environment. Approximately 14 per cent were primarily the result of obstetric complications and might have been avoided by a higher standard of obstetric care. Improving the standard of obstetric care that is presently available in Port Moresby would probably reduce the perinatal mortality rate by not more than 5 per 1,000.