Aboriginal and non-aboriginal perinatal deaths in Darwin: a comparative view.
OBJECTIVE
To compare perinatal deaths in Aborigines and non-Aborigines, and to identify the differences between the two groups in order to plan better prevention and bring about a reduction in perinatal deaths.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the records of 198 consecutive perinatal deaths (96 Aboriginal and 102 non-Aboriginal) in infants delivered in the maternity unit between 1984 and 1989.


METHODS
Royal Darwin Hospital Maternity Unit.


METHODS
Stillbirth rate, neonatal death rate, perinatal mortality rate; classifying perinatal deaths by cause and birthweight.


RESULTS
The Aboriginal perinatal mortality rate was 40.9 per 1000, three times that of the non-Aboriginal rate (13.4 per 1000). The stillbirth rate in Aborigines was 18.7 per 1000, 2.5 times that in non-Aborigines (7.2 per 1000). The Aboriginal neonatal mortality rate was 22.5 per 1000, 3.5 times the non-Aboriginal rate (6.2 per 1000). There was no significant difference in the distribution of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal perinatal deaths when classified by cause, with the exception of pre-eclampsia. Aboriginal women appeared to be 2.5 times more likely than non-Aboriginal women (P = 0.002) to have pre-eclampsia causing perinatal death. Prematurity and the unexplained categories were the major causes of perinatal death in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants.


CONCLUSIONS
The suboptimal perinatal outcome in Aborigines highlights the importance of antenatal care for Aboriginal mothers, and indirectly reflects the need for improving their standard of living.
Matthias
G S
GS
Royal Darwin Hospital, NT.
Morgan
G
G
D001724:Birth Weight; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015876:Northern Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples