A perinatal information system - abstract

ABSTRACT

A feasibility study was carried out on the use of a perinatal information system at the Mt. Hope Women's Hospital (MHWH). This system consists of the Simplified Perinatal Clinical Record (SPCR), a personal computer and a specially designed software package. The information system identifies high-risk pregnancies and provides statistical analysis on perinatal mortality and morbidity. Data from 1,000 consecutive deliveries at the MHWH from the 1st January to 28th February, 1986, were collected on the SPCR forms and analysed on a personal computer. The syste was easy to use. The results obtained indicated an apparent increase in the stillbirth rate in 1986 as compared to 1981 - 1984. It identified chronic anaemia (13.4 percent) and pre-eclampsia (8.0 percent as the two main causes of maternal pathology. It is recommended that this perinatal information system, with slight modification, should be introduced generally in Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the Caribbean. (AU)