Standard national perinatal data: a suggested minimum data set

Summary Recent interest and concern over perinatal practice and pregnancy outcome has highlighted the need for the collection of standard national perinatal data over and above that already provided by the civil registration system. A method is described for the derivation of a minimum data set based on a review of 38 perinatal enquiries and routine data collection systems. Only clearly defined parameters are included and it is suggested that other items should be added as and when definitional difficulties have been resolved by the relevant professional groups.