Analysis of variables affecting perinatal mortality: St. Louis City Hospital, 1969-1975.

A marked drop in perinatal mortality at St. Louis City Hospital No. 1 (SLCH) from 1974 to 1975 (39.7 vs 20.6 per 1000 births) prompted a detailed analysis of various factors which might have effected the change. Comparisons were also made between SLCH and St. Mary's Health Center (SMHC), a private hospital affiliated with St. Louis University. The significant drop in perinatal mortality at SLCH in 1975 seems to be due to a combination of various factors: 1) improvement in antepartum care, 2) increase use of cesarean sections, and 3) the influence of intrapartum fetal monitoring.