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Perinatal deaths as a result of immaturity in Jamaica
Author(s) -
McCawBinns Affette,
Greenwood Rosemary,
Coard Kathleen,
Ashley Deanna,
Golding Jean
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
paediatric and perinatal epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3016
pISSN - 0269-5022
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3016.1994.tb00495.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , demography , folic acid , singleton , infant mortality , obstetrics , eclampsia , pregnancy , population , environmental health , sociology , biology , genetics
Summary. During the 12‐month period from 1 September 1986 to 31 August 1987 an attempt was made to collect information on all perinatal deaths occurring on the island of Jamaica. Of the 2069 late fetal and early neonatal deaths identified, 19% fell into the Wigglesworth 1 definition of ‘deaths from immaturity’. Twins were 11 times more likely to die of immaturity than were singletons, and twins comprised 18% of all deaths in this group. Comparison of the singleton deaths from immaturity, with 9919 singletons born on the island during the 2‐month period of September and October 1987 and who survived the first 7 days, revealed several strong risk factors. These included history of previous miscarriages, stillbirth, early neonatal death or preterm delivery, and complications of bleeding and hypertension (highest diastolic, proteinuria and eclampsia all having independent associations). None of these factors ‘explained’ a strong negative relationship with the number of young children in the household. There was an apparent protective effect of maternal folic acid ingestion which warrants further investigation.