Abstract
Objective: To investigate trends and regional variation in perinatal mortality in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Design: Using data on hospital deliveries published by the Ministry of Health from 1401H to 1409H (1980/81 to 1988/89).
Setting and facilities: All Ministry of Health Hospitals with neonatal and/or perinatal care facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Main outcome: Rate and direction of perinatal mortality of the Kingdom and its eight health regions.
Result: Perinatal mortality for the nation declined over the 9-year period from 25.6 per 1000 in 1401 to 16 per 1000 in 1409. Western, Southern, Madina and Hail Regions had higher rates than the average for the Kingdom. Northern, Eastern and Riyadh regions had lower rates than the nation while the Qaseem region remained fairly close to the national rate. The rates for the Northern and Riyadh regions were about half of the national rate in 1409.
Conclusions: There are variations in the eight health regions. Perinatal mortality was higher in regions inhabited by the rural population, supporting the need for general practitioners and modern maternal and child health care centres, and also, reflecting the need to raise the level of health awareness through health promotion exercise.