Influence of definition based versus pragmatic birth registration on international comparisons of perinatal and infant mortality: population based retrospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To examine variations in the registration of extremely low birthweight and early gestation births and to assess their effect on perinatal and infant mortality rankings of industrialised countries.

Design

Retrospective population based study.

Setting

Australia, Canada, European countries, and the United States for 2004; Australia, Canada, and New Zealand for 2007.

Population

National data on live births and on fetal, neonatal, and infant deaths.

Main outcome measures

Reported proportions of live births with birth weight/gestational age of less than 500 g, less than 1000 g, less than 24 weeks, and less than 28 weeks; crude rates of fetal, neonatal, and infant mortality; mortality rates calculated after exclusion of births under 500 g, under 1000

SUBMITTER: Joseph KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3281499 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature