Important Facts for Fetal and Perinatal Mortality
Definition
Fetal Mortality: the intrauterine death of a fetus, at 20 weeks gestation or greater, before delivery.Perinatal Mortality: fetal deaths of 28 weeks or more plus infant deaths at less than 7 days of age.
Numerator
Fetal Mortality: number of fetal deaths at 20 weeks gestation or more.Perinatal Mortality: number of fetal deaths at 28 weeks gestation or more plus number of infant deaths at less than 7 days of age.
Denominator
Fetal Mortality: number of fetal deaths at 20 weeks gestation or more plus number of live births.Perinatal Mortality: live births plus fetal deaths in specified age groups.
Why Is This Important?
There is an increasing awareness of the magnitude and impact of fetal mortality as a public health problem. In Utah, there are more fetal deaths than infant deaths each year. Much of the public concern regarding reproductive loss has concentrated on infant mortality; however a focus on fetal mortality may provide further opportunities for prevention.Healthy People Objective MICH-1.2:
Reduce the rate of fetal and infant deaths during perinatal period (28 weeks of gestation to 7 days after birth)U.S. target: 5.9 perinatal deaths per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths
State target: 5.6 perinatal deaths per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths
Other Objectives
Related HP2020 Objectives include:Healthy People Objective MICH-1:
Reduce the rate of fetal and infant deaths- MICH-1.1: Reduce the rate of fetal deaths at 20 or more weeks of gestation
U.S. Target: 5.6 fetal deaths per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths - MICH-1.3: Reduce the rate of all infant deaths (within 1 year)
U.S. Target: 6.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births