Perinatal outcome in a University Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Summary

A survey of 195 perinatal deaths in the King Fahd Hospital, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, revealed a perinatal mortality rate of 160/1000 total births. Lethal malformations accounted for 47 (24–1 per cent) of fetal deaths. Of the remaining 148 deaths, 81 (54–7 per cent) occurred antenatally, 28 (18–9 per cent) in labour and 39 (26–3 per cent) within the first week of delivery. Amongst the normally formed babies, low birth weight was the commonest cause of death (24–1 per cent) followed by the consequences of maternal diseases (14–4 per cent). The cause of death was unknown in 15–4 per cent of mature babies who died. Improved patient education will be necessary to reduce the deaths from congenital malformations. Skilled obstetric care of high risk pregnancies and expert neonatal care should further reduce the perinatal mortality.