Trends in perinatal mortality

There has been a general trend to lower perinatal mortality in England and Wales since records began in 1928. Possible reasons for this include:

• improved general health
• improved sanitation
• smaller families
• development of antibiotics
• improved neonatal care

In consideration of data concerning the 4 year period in the 2000-2003 data (1):

• still birth rate
  • 5.35 per 1000 live births and still births in 2000
  • 5.77 per 1000 live births and deaths in 2003
• neonatal death rate
  • 3.89 per 1000 live births in 2000
  • 3.66 per 1000 live births in 2003
• perinatal mortality rate
  • 8.30 per 1000 live births and still births 2000
  • 8.60 per 1000 live births and still births 2003

Reference:

1. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (April 2005). Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (England and Wales)