Perinatal death pattern in the four districts of Thailand: findings from the Prospective Cohort Study of Thai Children (PCTC).
OBJECTIVE
To determine the magnitude and investigate causes of perinatal deaths of a cohort of the Prospective Cohort Study of Thai Children.


METHODS
A semi-structured verbal autopsy questionnaire and review of medical records were used to ascertain the causes of deaths during the perinatal period in four districts of Thailand.


RESULTS
The total numbers of 3,522 babies (with 28 pairs of twins) were born from 3,494 pregnant women. The perinatal mortality rate was 10.69 per 1,000 total births, the stillbirth rate was 6.75 per 1,000 births, and the early neonatal mortality rate was 3.97 per 1,000 live-births. About 37.8% of the perinatal deaths were agreed to by two pediatricians and a neonatologist as preventable. About 90% of the preventable stillbirths occurred in the antepartum period.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from the present study indicates that to further reduce the perinatal death rate, attention should be focused on reducing the stillbirths by a quality antenatal care.
Mo-suwan
Ladda
L
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand. ladda.m@psu.ac.th
Isaranurug
Sirikul
S
Chanvitan
Prasin
P
Techasena
Waraporn
W
Sutra
Sumitr
S
Supakunpinyo
Chanyut
C
Choprapawon
Chanpen
C
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D054238:Perinatal Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult