Fetal and Early Neonatal Deaths in Onondaga County, New York

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Abstract
A study was made of 1951 and 1952 hospital records in Onondaga County, N.Y., to determine the incidence of fetal and early neonatal losses. Of the total of 1456 fetal deaths, 67.7% occurred before 20 weeks of gestation, 8.4% between 20 weeks and 28 weeks, and 14.8% after 28 weeks; 9.1% could not be readily classified. The proportions of classifiable fetal deaths in the early, intermediate, and late groups were very similar to those found in New York City studies based on reports to the city health department. The fetal death rates and, to a lesser extent, the early neonatal death rates increased with advancing age of the mother. No trend was discernible in the fetal deaths with change in socioeconomic status of the census tract of family residence, but the early neonatal death rate was inversely related to socio-economic status. Agreement between the length of gestation calculated from the hospital records and that stated on the registration forms was about two-thirds for both fetal and early neonatal deaths. Under-registration was greatest for the intermediate fetal deaths, with only 42% of such deaths registered. Only 6 out of 182 deaths with evidence of life indicated in the hospital records, however, did not have live birth and death certificates filed. In comparing the physician''s statement of the outcome of pregnancy with the classification of the deaths according to the World Health Organization definitions, agreement was lowest between the term "mis-carriage" and the corresponding classification of intermediate fetal death.

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