Abstract
Objective: To study perinatal mortality rate and to identify the cause of perinatal deaths (PND) and to try and reduce them.
Design: A retrospective chart review of perinatal deaths (including neonatal deaths (NND) and stillbirths (SB).
Setting: King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital (KAUH) Jeddah.
Subjects: All perinatal deaths occurred in the 5 year period 1986 to 1990. The records of the mothers and the neonates were reviewed.
Result: The perinatal mortality rate was 22.5, 10.7, 12,13, and 11.9 per 1000 total births in the years 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 respectively.
The main causes of perinatal deaths were due to asphyxia and prematurity and their complications.
Conclusion: The perinatal mortality rare at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital was comparable to other tertiary care hospitals in the Kingdom. Improvement in perinatal care would be possible if greater efforts were made to expand neonatal units proportionate to obstetric beds and to regionalize perinatal care.