Perinatal mortality in Jamaica 1986-1987

A large population-based study of all stillbirths and neonatal deaths occurring on the island of Jamaica during a 12 month period is described. During this time, 2069 perinatal deaths were identified in an estimated total of 54,400 infants born giving a perinatal death rate of 38.0 per 1000 births. The death rate was 5 times higher among twins than singletons. An attempt was made to obtain detailed postmortem examination of as many cases as possible. In the event, 51 percent of the infants who died perinatally had such postmortem examination. Postmortem rate was affected by sex, multiplicity of the infant, time of death, month of death and area of delivery. Deaths were classified using the Wigglesworth scheme. The distribution of categories was similar in the months when the postmortem rate was 70 percent to the rest of the time period when the post-mortem rate was only 40 percent. The Wigglesworth classification of deaths identified those associated with intrapartum asphyxia as the most important group, accounting for over 40 percent of deaths overall and 59 percent of deaths of infants of more than 2500 g birthweight. Antepartum fetal deaths were the second largest group, comprising 20 percent of deaths. Sixty percent of the infants in this group weighted less than 2500 g at birth. Major malformations were responsible for few perinatal deaths in Jamaica. This simple classification is important as it focuses attention on details of labour and delivery that may require change and is useful in planning future delivery of obstetric and neonatal care. (AU)

Fatal malformations in Jamaica

Babies with major malformations were identified during the Jamaica Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey. They were found in 96 (8.6 percent) of 1112 perinatal and neonatal deaths coming to necropsy and in 28 (2.6 percent) of 1085 not so examined. The central nervous system was most commonly affected, followed by the renal, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems in decreasing order of frequency. Many infants had abnormalities in more than one system and 10 malformations syndromes/sequences were identified. Although at the present time, major malformations make only a small contribution to perinatal and neonatal mortality in Jamaica, their importance will increase when deaths from other causes, such as birth asphyxia, decline. The type of malformation currently fatal in a particular population is relevant when planning diagnostic and surgical services for neonates and infants. It is also important to any discussions about provision of prenatal diagnostic services. (AU)

Fatal malformations in Jamaica

Babies with major malformations were identified during the Jamaica Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey. They were in 96 (8.6 percent) of 1112 perinatal and neonatal deaths coming to necropsy and in 25 (2.35 percent) of 1085 other deaths. The central nervous system was not most commonly affected, followed by the renal, gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular system in decreasing order of frequency. Many infants had abnormalities in more than one system and 10 malfomation syndromes/sequences were identified. Although at the present time, major malformations make only a small contribution to perinatal and neonatal mortality in Jamaica, its importance will increase as there is a fall in deaths related to perinatal asphyxia, currently the major cause of perinatal mortality in Jamaica. Although many malformations are currently untreatable, it is important to take account of gastro-intestinal defects when planning surgical services for the newborn, since these are the most easily remediable (AU)

Perinatal mortality in Jamaica: the role of intrapartum asphyxia and birth trauma

Data from the Jamaican Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey, 1986-1987, were analysed in order to examine the frequency of pathological markers of asphyxia and birth trauma amongst fresh stillbirths and neonatal deaths in babies coming to necropsy. A total number of 1112 necropsies were performed. There were 295 normally formed fresh stillbirths and 463 neonatal deaths, 264 of whom died on the last day of life. One hundred and seventy (57.6 percent) fresh stillbirths showed signs of asphyxia and 64 (21.7 percent) had evidence of birth trauma. Signs of asphyxia were common in all the birth weight groups in 1st day neonatal deaths, being least common in the 0-999g group (19.6 percent) and most common in those weighing 2500-3499g (48.7 percent). Birth trauma was most common in infants with birth weights of over 2500g. It is of great concern that a large proportion of mature fresh stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Jamaica show pathological evidence of intrapartum asphyxia or birth trauma at necropsy. The problems underlying these deaths and the methods of preventing them need urgent attention. (AU)

Perinatal mortality in Jamaica 1986-1987

A large population-based study of all stillbirths and neonatal deaths occuring on the island of Jamaica during a 12 month period is described. During this time, 2069 perinatal deaths were identified from an estimated population of 54,400 total births giving a perinatal death rate of 38.0 per 1000 total births. The death rate was 5 times higher among twins than singletons. An attempt was made to obtain detailed postmortem examination of as many deaths as possible. In the event, 51 percent of perinatal deaths received such a postmortem examination, for the most part by 3 specially trained pathologists working in the capital. Postmortem rate was affected by sex, multiplicity of the infant, month of death and area of delivery. Deaths were classified using Wigglesworth scheme. The distribution categories was similar in the months when the postmortem rate was 70 percent to the rest of the time period when the post-mortem rate was only 40 percent. The Wigglesworth classification of deaths identified those associated with intrapartum asphyxia as the most important group, accounting for over 40 percent of deaths. This simple classification is important as it focusses attention on details of labour and delivery that may require change and is useful in planning future delivery of obstetric and neonatal care (AU)

Perinatal mortality in Jamaica 1986-1987

A large population-based study of all stillbirths and neonatal deaths occuring on the island of Jamaica during a 12 month period is described. During this time, 2069 perinatal deaths were identified from an estimated population of 54,400 total births giving a perinatal death rate of 38.0 per 1000 total births. The death rate was 5 times higher among twins than singletons. An attempt was made to obtain detailed postmortem examination of as many deaths as possible. In the event, 51 por ciento of perinatal deaths received such a postmortem examination, for the most part by 3 specially trained pathologists working in the capital. Postmortem rate was affected by sex, multiplicity of the infant, month of death and area of delivery. Deaths were classified using Wigglesworth scheme. The distribution categories was similar in the months when the postmortem rate was 70 por ciento to the rest of the time period when the post-mortem rate was only 40 por ciento . The Wigglesworth classification of deaths identified those associated with intrapartum asphyxia as the most important group, accounting for over 40 por ciento of deaths. This simple classification is important as it focusses attention on details of labour and delivery that may require change and is useful in planning future delivery of obstetric and neonatal care.

Perinatal mortality in Jamaica: the role of intrapartum asphyxia and birth trauma

Data from the Jamaican Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey, 1986-1987, were analysed in order to examine the frequency of pathological markers of asphyxia and birth trauma amongst fresh stillbirths and neonatal deaths in babies coming to necropsy. A total number of 1112 necropsies were performed. There were 295 normally formed fresh stillbirths and 463 neonatal deaths, 264 of whom died on the last day of life. One hundred and seventy (57.6 por ciento ) fresh stillbirths showed signs of asphyxia and 64 (21.7 por ciento ) had evidence of birth trauma. Signs of asphyxia were common in all the birth weight groups in 1st day neonatal deaths, being least common in the 0-999g group (19.6 por ciento ) and most common in those weighing 2500-3499g (48.7 por ciento ). Birth trauma was most common in infants with birth weights of over 2500g. It is of great concern that a large proportion of mature fresh stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Jamaica show pathological evidence of intrapartum asphyxia or birth trauma at necropsy. The problems underlying these deaths and the methods of preventing them need urgent attention.

Fatal malformations in Jamaica

Babies with major malformations were identified during the Jamaica Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Survey. They were in 96 (8.6 por ciento ) of 1112 perinatal and neonatal deaths coming to necropsy and in 25 (2.35 por ciento ) of 1085 other deaths. The central nervous system was not most commonly affected, followed by the renal, gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular system in decreasing order of frequency. Many infants had abnormalities in more than one system and 10 malfomation syndromes/sequences were identified. Although at the present time, major malformations make only a small contribution to perinatal and neonatal mortality in Jamaica, its importance will increase as there is a fall in deaths related to perinatal asphyxia, currently the major cause of perinatal mortality in Jamaica. Although many malformations are currently untreatable, it is important to take account of gastro-intestinal defects when planning surgical services for the newborn, since these are the most easily remediable.

Congenital malformations in Jamaica: an autopsy study - abstract

Congential malformations are a source of great psychological trauma to parents, and these infants contribute to the financial burden of medical budgets. In order to determine the size of the problem, a prospective autopsy study of perinatal and late-neonatal deaths in the entire island of Jamaica was undertaken for one year. Those in whom major congenital malformations were identified, were analysed in further detail. Of the 1,094 autopsies undertaken, major congenital malformations were present in 96 - an incidence of 8.8 percent of the study population. The central nervous system was the most commonly affected with 30 cases, followed by the renal (23), gastrointestinal (20) and cardiovascular (18) systems in decreasing order of frequency. Nearly half (13/30) of the central nervous system cases were various types of neural tube defect. Many infants had abnormalities in more than one system. We conclude that, although congenital malformations contribute to a relatively small percentage of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Jamaica, prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defect, followed by active obstetric intervention, could decrease the incidence still further. In addition, compared to the abnormalities in the other systems, those of the gastrointestinal tract offer the best chance of foetal salvage but require increased suspicion for early diagnosis, followed by prompt surgical intervention (AU)