A study of perinatal deaths at a tertiary care teaching hospital

Objectives : To determine the causes of perinatal mortality and to find out and adopt measures to reduce perinatal mortality. Methods : A retrospective study was carried out to analyze the perinatal deaths that occurred over a 3 year period from January 2002 to December 2004. Results : There were 8474 deliveries and 1208 perinatal deaths during the 3 year period giving a perinatal mortality rate of 142.55 per 1000 births. The still birth rate was 110.69 per 1000 births and neonatal mortality rate was 37.15 per 1000 live births. Low birth weight babies had significantly higher perinatal mortality rate. Antepartum hemorrhage, severe preeclampsia, severe anemia were the most frequent causes of perinatal deaths. Conclusion : Reduction in perinatal mortality could be facilitated by increasing awareness for registration of pregnant women for antenatal care.