Declining perinatal mortality in a region of Finland, 1968-82.

Perinatal mortality (PNM) in the catchment area of the University Central Hospital of Turku (UCHT), Finland, was investigated during a 15-year period from 1968 to 1982. During the study period, 82,151 babies were born, there were 531 fetal deaths and 505 cases of early neonatal death. The PNM rate declined during the study period from 17.9 in 1968 to 7.0 in 1982, or from 14.8 to 4.6 when infants weighing less than 1000 grams were excluded. Significant declines occurred in PNM due to maternal illness, placental and umbilical cord complications, other asphyxias and respiratory distress syndrome. We believe the centralization of obstetric and neonatal services for risk cases, the introduction of modern obstetric and neonatal management, and continuing education of personnel at every level of maternity and neonatal care accounted for the decline.