Optimal birth weight percentile cut‐offs in defining small‐ or large‐for‐gestational‐age

Aims: It remains questionable what birth weight for gestational age percentile cut‐offs should be used in defining clinically important poor or excessive foetal growth. We aimed to evaluate the optimal birth weight percentile cut‐offs for defining small‐ or large‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA or LGA). Methods: In a birth cohort‐based analysis of 17 979 120 non‐malformation singleton live births, U.S. 1995–2001, we assessed the optimal birth weight percentile cut‐offs for defining SGA and LGA. The 25th–75th percentile group served as the reference. Primary outcomes are the risk ratios (RR) of neonatal death and low 5‐min Apgar score (<4) comparing SGA or LGA versus the reference group. More than 2‐fold risk elevations were considered clinically significant. Results: The 15th birth weight cut‐off already identified SGA infants at more than 2‐fold risk of neonatal death at pre‐term, term or post‐term, except for extremely pre‐term births <28 weeks (continuous risk reductions over increasing birth weight percentiles). LGA was associated with a reduced risk of low 5‐min Apgar score at pre‐term, but an elevated risk at term and post‐term. The 97th cut‐off identified LGA infants at 2‐fold risk of low 5‐min Apgar at term. Conclusion: The commonly used 10th and 90th birth weight percentile cut‐offs for defining SGA and LGA respectively seem largely arbitrary. The 15th and 97th percentiles may be the optimal cut‐offs to define SGA and LGA respectively.     

A case–control study to examine the association between breastfeeding during late pregnancy and risk of a small‐for‐gestational‐age birth in Lima,Peru

Excessive demands on maternal nutritional status may be a risk factor for poor birth outcomes. This study examined the association between breastfeeding during late pregnancy (≥28 weeks) and the risk of having a small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) newborn, using a matched case–control design (78 SGA cases: birthweight <10th percentile for gestational age; 150 non‐SGA controls: 50th percentile <birthweight <90th percentile for gestational age). Between March 2006 and April 2007, project midwives visited daily three government hospitals in Lima, Peru and identified cases and matched controls based on hospital, gestational age, and inter‐gestational period. Mothers were interviewed and clinical chart extractions were completed. Factors associated with risk of SGA were assessed by their adjusted odds ratios (aOR) from conditional logistic regression. Exposure to an overlap of breastfeeding during late pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of having a SGA newborn [aOR = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.10–3.30]. However, increased risk was associated with having a previous low‐birthweight birth (aOR = 6.53; 95% CI: 1.43–29.70) and a low intake of animal source foods (<25th percentile; aOR = 2.26; 95% CI: 1.01–5.04), and tended to be associated with being short (<150 cm; aOR = 2.05; 95% CI: 0.92–4.54). This study found no evidence to support the hypothesis that breastfeeding during late pregnancy increases the risk for SGA; however, studies with greater statistical power are needed to definitively examine this possible association and clarify whether there are other risks to the new baby, the toddler and the pregnant woman.     

Does rural or urban residence make a difference to neonatal outcome in premature birth? A regional study in Australia

BACKGROUND: Patients living in rural areas may be at a disadvantage in accessing tertiary health care. AIM: To test the hypothesis that very premature infants born to mothers residing in rural areas have poorer outcomes than those residing in urban areas in the state of New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) despite a coordinated referral and transport system. METHODS: "Rural" or "urban" status was based on the location of maternal residence. Perinatal characteristics, major morbidity and case mix adjusted mortality were compared between 1879 rural and 6775 urban infants <32 weeks gestational age, born in 1992-2002 and admitted to all 10 neonatal intensive care units in NSW and ACT. RESULTS: Rural mothers were more likely to be teenaged, indigenous, and to have had a previous premature birth, prolonged ruptured membrane, and antenatal corticosteroid. Urban mothers were more likely to have had assisted conception and a caesarean section. More urban (93% v 83%) infants were born in a tertiary obstetric hospital. Infants of rural residence had a higher mortality (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07 to 1.48, p = 0.005). This trend was consistently seen in all subgroups and significantly for the tertiary hospital born population and the 30-31 weeks gestation subgroup. Regional birth data in this gestational age range also showed a higher stillbirth rate among rural infants (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.32, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Premature births from rural mothers have a higher risk of stillbirth and mortality in neonatal intensive care than urban infants.     

Health and the use of health care services in 5‐year‐old very‐low‐birth‐weight infants

Aim: We aimed to study the effect of prematurity, time of birth and level of birth hospital on morbidity and the use of health care services at age 5. Methods: This national study included all very‐low‐birth‐weight infants (VLBWI, <32 gestational weeks or birth weight ≤1500 g) born in Finnish level II or III hospitals in 2001–2002 (n = 918), and full‐term controls (n = 381). Parental questionnaires and register data were used to compare morbidity, and the use of health care services between VLBWI and full‐term controls, and within VLBWI according to the time of birth and birth hospital level. Results: Cerebral palsy, retinopathy of prematurity, other ophthalmic problems, respiratory infections, asthma or chronic lung disease, and inguinal hernia were overrepresented in VLBWI compared with the controls. VLBWI had more outpatient and inpatient days than the controls. The time of birth and birth hospital level were not associated with the use of services or with prematurity‐related morbidity. Conclusion: Although morbidity and the use of health care services were increased in the surviving VLBWI, the average use of services was relatively small at age 5. In surviving VLBWI, the time of birth and the birth hospital level did not affect morbidity or the use of services.     

Low Apgar score and mortality in extremely preterm neonates born in the United States

Aim: To investigate the relationship between low Apgar score and neonatal mortality in preterm neonates. Methods: Infant birth and death certificate data from the US National Center for Health Statistics for 2001–2002 were analysed. Primary outcome was 28‐day mortality for 690 933 neonates at gestational ages 24–36 weeks. Mortality rates were calculated for each combination of gestational age and 5‐min Apgar score. Relative risks of mortality, by high vs. low Apgar score, were calculated for each age. Results: Distribution of Apgar scores depended on gestational age, the youngest gestational ages having higher proportions of low Apgar scores. Median Apgar score ranged from 6 at 24 weeks, to 9 at 30–36 weeks gestation. The relative risk of death was significantly higher at Apgar scores 0–3 vs. 7–10, including at the youngest gestational ages, ranging from 3.1 (95% confidence interval 2.9, 3.4) at 24 weeks to 18.5 (95% confidence interval 15.7, 21.8) at 28 weeks. Conclusion: Low Apgar score was associated with increased mortality in premature neonates, including those at 24–28 weeks gestational age, and may be a useful tool for clinicians in assessing prognosis and for researchers as a risk prediction variable.     

Earlier versus later continuous Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for stable low‐birth‐weight infants: a randomized controlled trial

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of earlier continuous Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for relatively stable low‐birth‐weight (LBW) infants in a resource‐limited country. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed in LBW infants at a referral hospital in Madagascar. Earlier continuous KMC (intervention) was begun as soon as possible, within 24 h postbirth, and later continuous KMC (control: conventional care) was begun after complete stabilization (generally after 24 h postbirth). Main outcome measure was mortality during the first 28 days postbirth. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00531492. Results: A total of 73 infants (intervention 37, control 36) were included. Earlier continuous KMC had higher but no statistically different mortality in the first 28 days postbirth (1 vs. 2; risk ratio, 1.95; 95% CIs, 0.18–20.53; p = 1.00). There were no differences in incidence of morbidities. Body weight loss from birth to 24 h postbirth was significantly less in earlier KMC infants compared with later KMC infants. (?34.81 g vs. ?73.97 g; mean difference, 39.16 g; 95% CIs, 10.30–68.03; p = 0.01; adjusted p = 0.02). Adverse events and duration of hospitalization were not different between the two groups. Conclusions: Further evaluations of earlier continuous KMC including measurement of KMC dose, are needed in resource‐limited countries.     

Extremely preterm infants tolerate skin‐to‐skin contact during the first weeks of life

Aim: To determine if clinically stable extremely preterm infants can maintain their temperature during skin‐to‐skin contact and to screen for other negative effects. Methods: Continuous measurement of 22 stable infants’ physical parameters 2 h before, during, and 2 h after skin‐to‐skin‐contact. Mean gestational age at birth was 25 weeks and 4 days, mean post‐natal age was 8 days, postmenstrual age was 26 weeks and 6 days, and mean actual weight 702 g. Mean duration of skin‐to‐skin‐contact was 98 min. 16 infants were skin‐to‐skin with the mother, five with the father and one with an older sister. Results: There were no significant differences in mean skin temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, or oxygen saturation before, during, and after skin‐to‐skin contact. While staying within normal range, the mean skin temperature increased 0.1°C during skin‐to‐skin contact with the mother and decreased 0.3°C during skin‐to‐skin contact with the father (p = 0.011) (without post‐hoc correction). Conclusion: Clinically stable, extremely preterm infants can keep adequate skin temperature and adequate physical stability during skin‐to‐skin contact with their parents.     

Detailed family history of diabetes identified children at risk of type 2 diabetes: a population‐based case‐control study

Wei J‐N, Li H‐Y, Wang Y‐C, Chuang L‐M, Lin M‐S, Lin C‐H, Sung F‐C. Detailed family history of diabetes identified children at risk of type 2 diabetes: a population‐based case‐control study. Objectives: Recently, the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in children has increased dramatically. Mass screening is suffering and costly. It remains unknown if a detailed family diabetes mellitus history (FDMH) can identify children with different risks of T2D. This study investigated how FDMH was associated with childhood T2D. Methods: From 1992 to 1997, a nationwide survey conducted in Taiwan for all 3 000 000 school children aged between 6 and 18 yr identified 1966 children with diabetes. For comparison, 1780 children were randomly selected as the control group from all students with normal fasting glycemia (NFG). Telephonic Interviews were conducted using questionnaire for detailed FDMH. In the present analysis, 505 children with T2D and 619 children with NFG were enrolled. Results: Children with more family members having diabetes were more likely to have T2D. Children with the parental FDMH had a higher risk for T2D than children with the grandparental FDMH; the odds ratios (ORs) were 2.61 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25–5.48, p < 0.05) for boys and 6.47 (95% CI 2.69–15.6, p < 0.05) for girls, adjusting for age, birth weight, gestational age and body mass index (BMI) z‐score. Children with maternal FDMH had a higher risk for T2D than children with paternal FDMH, and much greater in boys (OR = 29.5, 95% CI 3.67–237, p < 0.05) than in girls (OR = 7.63, 95% CI 2.05–28.4, p < 0.05), adjusted for age, birth weight, gestational age, BMI z‐score, and FDMH in grandparents. Conclusions: Children with parental FDMH, especially the maternal FDMH, have an elevated risk for T2D. Detailed FDMH is a convenient alternative to identify children with different risks of T2D.     

Factors associated with successful establishment of breastfeeding in very preterm infants

Aim: To describe feeding practices at hospital discharge in relation to characteristics of the very preterm infants (VPI) and their mothers. Methods: Design. Prospective hospital‐based registration of very preterm infants born with a gestational age ≤32 weeks in Denmark during 2004–2008. Subjects. Healthy mothers and VPI without diseases causing eating disabilities at discharge. Results: A total of 478 VPI were registered. At discharge, 60% were exclusively breastfed, 35% were exclusively bottlefed, and 5% were both breast‐ and bottle‐fed. Mothers of high social class (p = 0.000) and ‘not smoking’ (p = 0.003) were significantly more often breastfeeding their preterm infant(s) at discharge. Single births infants tended more often to be breastfed (p = 0.09). Infant age at discharge and duration of hospitalization did not influence breastfeeding at discharge. Increase in weight z‐score from birth to discharge was largest in the bottlefeeding‐group compared with the breastfeeding‐group (p = 0.000) probably as a result of feeding practice the last week(s) of hospitalization. Conclusion: Breastfeeding can successfully be established in very preterm infants. Mothers of low social classes, smokers, multiple birth and very preterm infants with low weight for age may need extra attention in breastfeeding establishing policies.     

Increasing rates of prematurity and epidemiology of late preterm birth

Preterm birth rates in Australia have risen in the last two decades, mostly accounted for by the rise in late preterm births. Late preterm births (34–36 weeks) comprise 70% of all preterm births, which translates to approximately 16 000 births annually in Australia. The precise causes for this trend are unclear; however, possible aetiologies include increasing maternal age, increased use of artificial reproductive technologies and increased multiple births. Compared with term‐born children, late preterm children not only have increased mortality and in‐hospital morbidity including respiratory difficulties, but also long‐term cognitive, school performance, behaviour and psychiatric problems. The potential public health and educational burden of late preterm birth is considerable. More research is required in this area to understand the risk factors for late preterm birth and to help identify those children at highest risk of developmental deficits.     

Birth outcomes of patients with isolated anorectal malformations: A population‐based case‐control study

In most patients affected by isolated anorectal malformation (IARM) the etiology is largely unknown. Thus, the aim of our project was to analyze possible risk factors for IARM. In the first step, birth outcomes of cases with IARM were analyzed on the basis of maternal socio‐demographic variables, and these data are presented in this paper. Gestational age at delivery, birthweight, preterm birth, low birthweight and small for gestational age of cases with IARM were evaluated in the function of maternal age, birth/pregnancy order, marital and employment status of mothers in the population‐based large dataset of the Hungarian Case‐Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980–1996. The study samples included 231 live‐born cases with IARM, 361 matched and 38 151 population controls without any defect. IARMs are more frequent in males, twins and newborn infants with low birthweight and small‐for‐gestational‐age, the latter being the consequence of intrauterine growth restriction. In addition, mothers of cases were younger but with higher birth order, and had lower socio‐economic status. These maternal variables are characteristic for the gypsy population in Hungary. The higher proportion of gypsy women among the mothers of cases with IARM was confirmed during the home visits of the study. Male sex and intrauterine growth restriction of cases, in addition to low socioeconomic status and gypsy origin of mothers may have a role in the risk of IARMs.     

Predictive value of the 1‐min Apgar score for survival at 23–26 weeks gestational age

Aim: Is a 1‐min Apgar score ≤1 predictive of mortality in resuscitated extremely premature infants? Methods: A retrospective case–control review of all infants with gestational ages <27 weeks over a 5‐year period. All values as median [75% CI]. Results: Of 237 infants, 29 had 1‐min Apgar scores ≤1 (Group 1) and 208 had scores >1 (Group 2). Despite earlier and more frequent intubation (2 min [2.3; 6.7] vs. 5 min [7.5; 10] and 93% vs. 77%, p = 0.04), mortality was higher in Group 1 (62% vs. 17%; p < 0.0001). Age at death did not differ (Group 1: 3.5 days [1; 30] vs. Group 2: 6 days [6; 44]). Birth weight and sex were the best predictors of survival. With a 1‐min Apgar score of 1, a male infant at 23 weeks and 500 g had a mortality rate of 92%. Conclusion: Despite successful resuscitation, infants between 23 and 26 weeks have a very poor prognosis for survival when presenting with bradycardia, cyanosis and no respiratory efforts (1‐min Apgar = 1) at birth. According to our data, initiating active treatment for an infant at 23 weeks with bradycardia and apnoea is almost always unsuccessful, whereas by 26 weeks gestation, the chance of survival is higher than the probability of death.     

Maternal socioeconomic characteristics and infant mortality from injuries in the Czech Republic 1989–92

OBJECTIVES: Infant and childhood mortality from injuries in Central and Eastern Europe is high but little is known about its determinants. This study examined whether maternal socioeconomic characteristics predict infant mortality from injuries in the Czech Republic. METHODS: Data on all live births registered in the Czech Republic 1989-91 (n=387 496) were linked with the national death register, 1989-92, using the unique national identification number. Effects of maternal socioeconomic characteristics, birth weight and gestational age, recorded in the birth register, on the risk of death from external causes (ICD-9 800-999) were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 195 linked infant deaths from external causes (rate 50/100000 live births), 73% were from suffocation. After controlling for other factors, the risk of death was higher in boys, declined with increasing maternal education (odds ratio for primary v university education 3.5, 95% confidence interval 1.5 to 8.6), maternal age, birth weight and gestational age, and was increased in infants of unmarried mothers and of mothers with higher parity. The effect of education appeared stronger in married mothers and in mothers of low parity. CONCLUSION: The risk of infant death from external causes in this population was strongly associated with maternal and family characteristics.     

Maternal selenium,copper and zinc concentrations in pregnancy associated with small‐for‐gestational‐age infants

Pregnancy during adolescence increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome, especially small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) birth, which has been linked to micronutrient deficiencies. Smoking has been shown to be related to lower micronutrient concentrations. Different ethnicities have not been examined. We used a subset from a prospective observational study, the About Teenage Eating study consisting of 126 pregnant adolescents (14–18‐year‐olds) between 28 and 32 weeks gestation. Micronutrient status was assessed by inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Smoking was assessed by self‐report and plasma cotinine, and SGA was defined as infants born <10th corrected birthweight centile. The main outcome measures were as follows: (1) maternal plasma selenium, copper and zinc concentrations in adolescent mothers giving birth to SGA vs. appropriate‐for‐gestational‐age (AGA) infants; and (2) comparison of micronutrient concentrations between women of different ethnicities and smoking habits. The plasma selenium {mean ± standard deviation (SD) [95% confidence interval (CI)]} concentration was lower in the SGA [n = 19: 49.4 ± 7.3 (CI: 45.9, 52.9) µg L^?1] compared with the AGA [n = 107: 65.1 ± 12.5 (CI: 62.7, 67.5) µg L^?1; P < 0.0001] group. Smoking mothers had a lower selenium concentration compared with non‐smokers (P = 0.01) and Afro‐Caribbean women had higher selenium concentrations compared with White Europeans (P = 0.02). Neither copper nor zinc concentrations varied between groups. Low plasma selenium concentration in adolescent mothers could contribute to the risk of delivering an SGA infant, possibly through lowering placental antioxidant defence, thus directly affecting fetal growth. Differences in plasma selenium between ethnicities may relate to variation in nutritional intake, requiring further investigation.     

The choice of place of delivery. Effect of hospital level on mortality in all singleton births in New York City

In an analysis of all singleton births and neonatal deaths with known birth weights and gestational ages in New York City maternity services during a three-year period (1976 to 1978), intensive care services at the hospital of birth were found to influence mortality only in preterm (less than 37 weeks' gestation) or low-birth-weight infants (less than 2251 g). By contrast, for infants who were born at term and of normal birth weight, mortality rates did not differ by level of perinatal care available at the hospital of birth. On the average, preterm and low-birth-weight infants were at a 24% higher risk of death if birth occurred outside of a level 3 center, regardless of whether birth occurred at a level 1 or level 2 hospital. Preterm and low-birth-weight infants, though constituting only 12% of births, accounted for 70% of neonatal deaths in New York City. The remaining infants, ie, those born at term and of normal birth weight, who experienced no measurable mortality advantage when born in a level 3 hospital, accounted for 88% of all births.     

Prevalence and risk factors for gastroschisis in a public hospital from west México

Mexico is recognized as a country with a high prevalence of gastroschisis, although the cause of this remains unclear. We define the prevalence and potential risk factors for gastroschisis in a public hospital from west México. A case‐control study was conducted among 270 newborns, including 90 patients with nonsyndromic gastroschisis (cases) and 180 infants without birth defects (controls), born all during the period 2009 to 2013 at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara “Dr. Juan I. Menchaca” (Guadalajara, Mexico), from a total of 51 145 live births. Potential maternal risk factors for gastroschisis were compared using multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the deviance explained by different variables of interest. The overall prevalence of gastroschisis in live births was 17.6 per 10 000 births (95% confidence interval [CI] 14.0–21.2), whereas in offspring of women ≤19 years old was 29.9 per 10 000 births (95% CI 21.9–38.0). Mothers ≤19 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.8: 95% CI 1.5–5.1), anemia during pregnancy (aOR 10.7; 95% CI 2.0–56.9), first‐trimester exposure to hormonal contraceptives (aOR 3.7; 95% CI 1.0–13.0), and first‐trimester alcohol consumption (aOR 3.4; 95% CI 1.6–7.3), were associated with gastroschisis. Contrarily, adjusted OR for pre‐pregnancy body mass index ≥25 kg/m² has protective odds (aOR 0.2; 95% CI 0.1–0.5). Our results suggest an increased risk for gastroschisis among mothers under the age of 20, with anemia during pregnancy, and those who used hormonal contraceptives or consumed alcohol during early pregnancy, whereas, pre‐pregnancy overweight has a protective OR, and they are discussed as clues in its pathogenesis.     

OUTCOME OF TWIN BIRTH Review of 1636 Children Born in Twin Birth

Abstract. During the five-year period 1964–68 96733 births were registered in the 28 hospitals equipped with maternity facilities in the Uppsala hospital region. Of these babies, 1636 were born in 818 twin deliveries. Data on gestational age, sex, weight and length at birth, birth order, hospital type, congenital malformations and perinatal mortality are analysed. Altogether 17.3 per 1000 of the children born during this period were born in multiple births. The perinatal mortality for the twin babies was 64 per 1000 born, with the mortality higher in the less specialized hospitals than the others. Twin no. 1 suffered perinatal death in 67 cases per 1000 and twin no. 2 in 60 cases per 1000. For twins of primiparae the losses were 92 per 1000 children and for twins born to multiparae 51 per 1000. Altogether 72 per 1000 male twins died perinatally compared to 52 per 1000 female twins. The most heavy losses occurred among the low-weight premature twins and in these cases both twins often suffered perinatal death.     

Newborn behaviour to locate the breast when skin‐to‐skin: a possible method for enabling early self‐regulation

Aim: The aim of this study was to provide a more detailed analysis of the infant’s behavioural sequence that begins immediately after birth and terminates with grasping the nipple, suckling and then falling asleep. Method: Twenty‐eight full‐term infants were videotaped immediately after birth. A video protocol was developed to examine infant behaviours identified from five random videotapes. Results: When birth crying had stopped, the babies showed a short period of relaxation and then successively became alert. They went through an ‘awakening phase’, an ‘active phase’ with movements of limbs, rooting activity and looking at the mother’s face, a ‘crawling phase’ with soliciting sounds, a ‘familiarization phase’ with licking of the areola, and a ‘suckling phase’ and last a ‘sleeping phase’. Five factors related to the time spent to locate the breast: more number of looks at the breast 10–20 min after birth (p < 0.0001); and exposure to meperidine (p = 0.0006) related to increased time. Early start of crawling (p = 0,0040); increased number of ‘soliciting sounds’ (p = 0.0022); and performing hand–breast–mouth movements (p = 0.0105) related to shorter time. Conclusion: Inborn breastfeeding reflexes were depressed at birth, possibly because of a depressed sensory system. It is hypothesized that when the infant is given the option to peacefully go through the nine behavioural phases birth cry, relaxation, awakening, activity, crawling, resting, familiarization, suckling and sleeping when skin‐to‐skin with its mother this results in early optimal self‐regulation.     

Underlying maternal and pregnancy‐related conditions account for a substantial proportion of neonatal morbidity in late preterm infants

Aim

We studied the impact of maternal and pregnancy‐related conditions and the effect of gestational age itself, on the health of infants born late preterm.

Methods

Singletons born in gestational weeks 34 + 0 to 41 + 6 in 1995–2013 in the southern region of Sweden were identified from a perinatal register. We found 14 030 infants born late preterm and 294 814 born at term. A hierarchical system was developed to examine the impact of pregnancy complications. The outcomes studied were as follows: neonatal death, central nervous system (CNS) or respiratory disease, infection, neonatal admission and respiratory support. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were obtained using logistic regression analyses.

Results

Late preterm infants were at increased risk for all outcomes compared to term infants, with adjusted ORs from 13.1 (95% CI: 12.7–13.6) for neonatal admission to 2.3 (95% CI: 1.8–2.9) for infections. Late preterm birth after preterm prelabour rupture of membranes was associated with an overall lower risk compared to late preterm births due to other causes. Exposure to antepartum haemorrhage or maternal diabetes increased the risk for CNS and respiratory morbidity.

Conclusion

Morbidity decreased in late preterm infants with increasing gestational age. Underlying conditions accounted for a substantial part of the morbidity.     

Perinatal Mortality in a Saudi Maternity Hospital

ABSTRACT. Perinatal mortality was analyzed in infants to mothers who delivered at the main Maternity hospital in Riyadh and who represented a large proportion of the obstetric population in the city. The crude perinatal mortality rate was 39.8 per 1000 births. The hirth weight-specific mortality rates were compared with the corresponding Swedish rates. The ratio between the birth weight-specific mortality rates in Riyad and Sweden increased from the lightest to the heaviest hirth weight category. Thus the perinatal mortality rate was 2.3 times higher in infants less than 1500 g, and 8.8 times higher in infants with birth weights of 3500 g and more. Similarly, the ratio between the gestational age-specific mortality rates in Riyadh and Sweden increased with advancing gestational age. The perinatal mortality rate of infants less than 28 weeks was 1.6 times higher, and that of term infants 4.8 times higher than in Sweden. The findings indicated shortcomings in the obstetric services. The perinatal mortality rate of teenage mothers, who comprised 17 percent of the material, was 9.1 times the Swedish rate. Other risk groups were para 0 mothers and mothers with a previous infant loss.