[Perinatal mortality underreporting in obstetrics and neonatology].
BACKGROUND
Perinatal mortality has been decreasing in Spain; nevertheless completeness of death certificates was questioned because of the underreporting observed.


OBJECTIVE
To quantify perinatal mortality reporting of birth and infant-death certificates and obstetrics and neonatal hospital records of the Autonomous Community of Murcia in 2003.


METHODS
Newborns with a weight of at least 500 g or 22 weeks gestation, who died before the 8th day, were included. The dates came from birth certificates (stillbirths and infants died before one day of life) and death certificates (more than one day, and obstetrics-neonatal hospital records. Detection rates were calculated for death certificates and hospital registrations.


RESULTS
One hundred fifty WHO-cases, of which 72 agreed with both sources. Sixty one percent of coincident cases were stillbirths. The underreporting was 26 % in Obstetrics and 10 % in Neonatology. Only 16 % of deaths were reported in the Official Statistics.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical perinatal mortality reporting remains inadequate. Official Statistics and Obstetrics - Neonatology records add independent and complementary information.
Cirera Suárez
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Servicio de Epidemiología, Consejería de Sanidad. Región de Murcia. CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública. Murcia. España. Lluis.Cirera@carm.es
Martínez López
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Salmerón Martínez
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Navarro Sánchez
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