Boys more at risk of perinatal death

Respiratory, cardiovascular disorders are biggest concerns

MORE boy babies have died over the last 18 years compared to girls in South Africa, with Gauteng experiencing the most stillbirths than any province in South Africa, a new report by Statistics SA on perinatal deaths has revealed.

According to the 2014 report, an overall number of perinatal deaths increased consistently over the 18-year period jumping from over 13 000 in 1997 to a high of 25 287 in 2009, and thereafter there was no consistent pattern.

During the release of the report yesterday, Statistician General Padi Lehohla also released Stats SA registration of births report, which revealed South Africa has experienced a steady decline in the number of births between 2013 and 2015, from 1.15million to 1.14million to 1.08million annually.

Birth registration also improved over a three-year period from 2013 to 2015. In 2013, only 55.5 percent of the babies were registered during the first 30 days of life. This progressed to 60.1percent in 2014 and this number increased to 65.1 percent last year.

While there has been an increase in registration of live births, the perinatal deaths also showed a 3.6percent decline in 2013.

In 2014, about two-thirds (65.8 percent) of perinatal deaths were stillbirths and the remaining one-third were early neonatal deaths (34.2 percent). The estimated mortality rates ranged from 6.2 early neonatal deaths per 1 000 live births; 11.8 stillbirths per 1 000 total births to a national perinatal rate of 17.9 perinatal deaths per 1 000 total births.

The recorded live births data shows that over the three year period most birth occurrences were among women aged 20−24 years followed by women aged 25−29 years, comprising just over 50 percent collectively.

Lehohla said it is therefore not surprising at least half of the women that experienced perinatal deaths in 2014 were between the ages of 20 and 24.

More deaths of male infants were recorded over the 18-year period, the 122 male deaths per 100 female perinatal deaths. The national average for stillbirths was 119 male stillbirths per 100 female stillbirths.

Between 2012 and 2014, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders specific to perinatal period was the leading cause of early neonatal deaths and the second leading cause of stillbirths.

Lehohla said the latest report showed mortality of neonatal and stillbirths could be reduced by effective and efficient care during pregnancy, and efforts such as warmth and improved hygiene standards to ensure infants survived during the first seven days.