Perinatal mortality audit: North Macedonia 2020

ABSTRACT

Many stillbirths and neonatal deaths can be prevented through evidence-based and timely interventions.To ensure high-quality care for mothers and their infants during pregnancy, childbirth and the neonatalperiod, the Ministry of Health of North Macedonia established the National Working Group for NeonatalMortality Audit. With support from WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund, this group conducted thefirst perinatal mortality audit in the country for the year 2019, followed by a second one (with WHO support)for the year 2020.The perinatal mortality audit report 2020 provides insights and evidence-based action points to help identifysystem errors and barriers, and to reinforce strengths. By counting the number of stillbirths and neonataldeaths, gathering information on where and why these deaths occurred, and understanding the underlyingcontributory causes and avoidable factors, health care providers, programme managers, administrators andpolicy-makers can prevent future deaths and improve quality of care.The aim is to provide potential actions towards improving care for mothers and their infants duringpregnancy, childbirth and the neonatal period, as part of wider efforts to improve the quality of care providedthroughout the health system.