POTENTIALLY AVOIDABLE PERINATAL DEATHS IN DENMARK, SWEDEN AND LITHUANIA AS CLASSIFIED BY THE NORDIC-BALTIC CLASSIFICATION

Objectives To analyse which subgroups of perinatal deaths contribute m ost to the perinatal mortality rate in Lithuania compared with Denmark /Sweden. Design Comparison of all perinatal deaths in Denmark/Sweden 1 991 and Lithuania 1993-1994 by the common Nordic-Baltic perinatal deat h classification, based on information from the medical records. Resul ts The doubled perinatal mortality in Lithuania compared with Denmark/ Sweden is mainly explained by a threefold increase of intrapartum and two- to fivefold increase in neonatal deaths of nonmalformed infants. The higher rate of malformed infants is partly explained by a four tim es higher mortality from neural tube defects. Conclusions The use of a common perinatal death classification has identified categories mainl y responsible for the higher rate of perinatal mortality, but further investigation of potentially avoidable factors requires further study.