Perinatal mortality with particular reference to the Singapore situation

Abstract

Perinatal mortality rates have been gradually declining in all countries. The initial decline mainly resulted from improvements in the late foetal mortality rates. Later with improvements in neonatal care, early neonatal mortality rates also improved. The developed countries have consistently shown better results than the developing countries, an indication of the higher standard of living, general health as well as the delivery of health care in these countries. In the Singapore situation, a rapid improvement in perinatal mortality was initially observed due to improvements in the late foetal mortality, followed later by reduction in the early neonatal mortality due to upgrading of neonatal intensive care. The perinatal mortality rate is lowest in the Chinese compared to the Indians and Malays, most likely due to the dietary practices of the three ethnic groups in Singapore; while the Chinese encourage extra nutrition in the pregnant female, the Malays and Indians tend to practise dietary restriction during this period. The improved nutrition of the pregnant mother is a factor in improving the perinatal mortality.

PIP: Perinatal mortality rates have been gradually declining in all countries. The initial decline mainly resulted from improvements in the late fetal mortality rates. Later, with improvements in neonatal care, early neonatal mortality rates also improved. The developed countries have consistently shown better results than developing countries, an indication of the higher standard of living, general health, as well as the delivery of health care in these countries. In the Singapore situation, a rapid improvement in perinatal mortality was seen initially due to improvements in late fetal mortality, followed later on by a reduction in early neonatal mortality due to the upgrading of neonatal intensive care. The perinatal mortality rate is lowest in the Chinese compared to the Indians and Malays, most likely due to the dietary practices of the 3 ethnic groups in Singapore; while the Chinese encourage extra nutrition for the pregnant female, the Malays and Indians tend to practice dietary restrictions during this period. The improvement in nutrition for the pregnant mother is a factor in reducing perinatal mortality.