title: Postneonatal mortality in south New Zealand: necropsy data review.
abstract: Three southern New Zealand health districts had a postneonatal mortality rate of 8.1 per 1000 livebirths and a postneonatal sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) mortality rate of 6.3 per 1000 livebirths for the period 1979-1984. This is one of the highest reported rates of SIDS. The 429 postneonatal deaths occurring during the period were assigned to one of four groups: unpreventable (n = 52), possibly preventable non-SIDS (n = 45), SIDS with minor abnormalities at necropsy or premorbid symptoms (n = 167), and SIDS with no abnormalities at necropsy or documented premorbid symptoms (n = 165). These groups were related to obstetric and perinatal data. For those infants classified as SIDS, the winter peak of deaths was particularly marked if death occurred after 3 months of age. These older SIDS deaths had more minor abnormalities at necropsy, a longer interval between time last seen or heard alive and found dead and more thymic petechiae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009520:New Zealand; D012307:Risk Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*