Wessex Perinatal Mortality Survey 1982

Summary. A survey of 335 perinatal deaths in the Wessex region revealed a perinatal mortality rate of 10·1 per 1000 total births. Lethal malformations accounted for 82 (24%) deaths. Of the 253 normally formed infants, 124 (49%) died during pregnancy and 33 (13%) in labour. More than 60% of the stillbirths weighed >1500 g. Of the 96 postpartum deaths, half occurred within 24 h of delivery, mostly following complications of labour and circumstances suggesting hypoxia. The Aberdeen classification showed half of the mothers had pregnancy complications: other predisposing factors were identified in 10% of perinatal deaths. There were 185 neonatal deaths of which 150 occurred within 7 days and 35 within the next 3 weeks. Sixteen (46%) of the late neonatal deaths were due to a congenital abnormality; pregnancy or labour complications were present in six (32%) of the remaining 19 normally formed infants. Review of existing methods of antenatal supervision in particular, followed by the use of better monitoring systems for earlier detection of fetal distress and prompt action when indicated, together with improvement in neonatal care in the first 24 h after birth should further reduce the perinatal mortality.