PERINATAL-MORTALITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE REPORTING OF LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

Objectives. This study examined changes in the reporting of very low-b irthweight infants is Alabama from 1974 to 1994 and the impact oil per inatal mortality rates. Methods. Linked live birth, neonatal death, an d stillbirth records of infants born weighing less than 1500 g were co mpared. Results. Thr changes in mortality over time ranged from a drop from 100% to 92% in the under-500-g group to a drop, from 39% to 4% i n the 1000-to 1499-g group. The percentage of total births weighing le ss than 500 g increased by 155%; the percentage of 1000- to 1499-g bir ths increased by only 7%. As a result, the percentage of neonatal mort ality attributable to live births below 500 g increased from 3% to 32% . Conclusions. Increased reporting of births below 500 g has masked im provements in neonatal mortality.