Open AccessCan We Expect To Lower Perinatal And Neonatal Mortality?
Author(s) -
Georgsdóttir Ingibjörg,
Geirsson Reynir Tómas,
Jóhannsson Jóhann Heidar,
Biering Gunnar,
Snædal Gunnlaugur
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016348909009896
Subject(s) - medicine , infant mortality , perinatal mortality , neonatal death , neonatal mortality , obstetrics , pediatrics , retrospective cohort study , pregnancy , medical care , prenatal care , perinatal period , emergency medicine , fetus , population , environmental health , biology , genetics
In a retrospective study of all perinatal and neonatal deaths in Iceland in 1976–85, the circumstances surrounding each death were carefully evaluated to assess the quality of care given and to identify cases of suboptimal care. In 1976–80, 87 or 35% of peri‐ and neonatal deaths were associated with suboptimal care and 46 or 29% of peri‐ and neonatal deaths in 1981–85. Most of the infants weighed more than 1500 g. Suboptimal care was most commonly seen in conjunction with antenatal care in both five‐year periods, with a 25% (N.S.) reduction of cases in 1981–85. Suboptimal intrapartum care was significantly reduced (p<0.05) and there was a substantial reduction (62%), although not significant (0.1 >p>0.05), of suboptimal neonatal care between the two periods. A few cases were attributable to maternal decisions taken against medical advice, most of them in the latter period. Perinatal care improved during the study period. The task of further lowering perinatal mortality rates depends on vigilance to abnormal findings in routine antenatal care.