Causes of perinatal mortality

With respect to stillbirths:

• stillbirths categorised according to the Extended Wigglesworth classification show the largest proportion of deaths being ascribed to unexplained antepartum fetal deaths (70.7% of all reported stillbirths in 2003)
• largest identifiable causes of deaths were:
  • congenital malformations (15.2% in 2003)
  • death from intrapartum causes (7.6% in 2003)
• deaths classified as unexplained antepartum fetal deaths are then further categorised according to the Obstetric (Aberdeen) classification, which enables a further 18.7% of stillbirths to be assigned to antepartum haemorrhage (8.0% of all stillbirths in 2003), maternal disorder (5.1%), preeclampsia (3.9%) and mechanical complications (1.1%)
• in 2003, the deaths of some 1927 stillborn babies (51.9% of all stillbirths reported in 2003) remain unexplained according to the classification systems in use

With respect to neonatal deaths:

• the largest proportion of neonatal deaths classified according to the Extended Wigglesworth classification were deaths due to immaturity, representing 49.7% of all reported neonatal deaths in 2003
• the next most significant proportions of classifications of death are those classified as congenital malformations (22.9% in 2003) and deaths from intrapartum causes (9.1% in 2003).

Reference:

1. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (April 2005).Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (England and Wales).Stillbirth, neonatal and post-neonatal mortality 2000-2003.