PERINATAL-MORTALITY SURVEY IN JAMAICA - AIMS AND METHODOLOGY

The jamaican Perinatal Mortality Survey was designed to identify the t rue perinatal mortality rate, and assess the factors which could contr ibute towards a reduction in perinatal mortality on the island. All bi rths in a 2-month period (n = 10 527) were compared with all perinatal deaths occurring over a 12-month period (n = 2069). Over half the dea ths (n = 1058) received a detailed post-mortem examination. Use of the Wigglesworth classification identifies the major component of perinat al death in this country to be associated with intrapartum asphyxia (4 4% of deaths). Deaths due to congenital malformations and miscellaneou s causes contribute relatively little (< 10%) to the overall mortality rate. Over a quarter of deaths apparently occur before the onset of l abour, and a fifth are prematurely liveborn but die of causes related to immaturity.