CEREBRAL PALSY AND PERINATAL DEATHS IN GEOGRAPHICALLY DEFINED POPULATIONS WITH DIFFERENT PERINATAL SERVICES

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Abstract
The number of perinatal deaths and of children with cerebral palsy among 23,039 total births between 1973-1978 in 1 Swedish county were examined by comparing 2 populations which differed by the presence or absence of a neonatal ward (special care baby unit) in the maternity hospital for the district. No support was found for the assumption that lower perinatal mortality in the region without a neonatal ward would be at the cost of an increased number with cerebral palsy. Between the two 3-yr periods there was a highly significant decrease in perinatal mortality in the sample without a neonatal ward. When perinatal deaths and cerebral palsy were considered together the decline remained highly significant. The corresponding change in the sample with a neonatal ward was smaller and nonsignificant.