Safety of home delivery compared with hospital delivery in The Eastern Region Health Authority in Ireland in the years 1999-2002.
A comparison was made of deaths from intrapartum hypoxia of normally formed babies > 2.5 kg born at home (N = 346) and those born in hospitals (N = 61,215). If the intended place of birth is home the chance of dying due to intrapartum hypoxia is 1:70 (5 in 346). If the intended place of birth is hospital the chance of dying is 1:3600 (17 in 61,215). Although the sample size of home births is smaller, the difference is significant (< 0.01 level of significance). In view of the small number of home births, the need for ongoing monitoring of home births over a longer period is essential.
D003696:Delivery Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy