Perinatal mortality Selçuk University Hospital in 1997

A prospective study was conducted to analyze the rate of perinatal mortality and the perinatal mortality causes in 2395 infants who vvere born in 1997, at Selçuk University Hospital. Among whom were 77 of the perinatal deaths vvere stillbirths and 2318 live births. Preterm infants totaled341 (14.7%) vvhile 251(10.48%) had low birth vveights and 90 (3.75%) had very low birth vveights. The stillbirth rate was 32.1 per 1000. 73 of the 2318 live birth infants died during the first seven days of life. The perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) was 62.6 per 1000 and early neonatal mortality rate 31.4 per 1000. According to Wigglesworth classification of perinatal deaths (n-150), macerated still­ birth, asfixial conditions, lethal congenital abnormalities and immatürity groups vvere, 15%, 51%, 13% and 13% respectively. The analyses of PNMR implies that more than half (57.33%) of the deaths could be prevented. The main cause of high PNMR in this hospital is attributable to be a referral çenter in this region for high risk preg- nancies. PNMR could reduced vvith a large scale fetal-maternal assesment program and technological de- velopment covering the vvhole region vvith the ultimate goal of reducing the perinatal mortality rate.