Perinatal mortality and its prevention in rural Swaziland

Abstract

Perinatal mortality is defined as the number of stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life per thousand births. While diagnoses such as ‘prematurity’ or ‘intrapartum asphyxia’ are o f interest to midwives and doctors, they tell us very little about the basic reasons for these deaths. Of greater relevance to health workers in developing countries are what may be termed the ‘primary’ causes of mortality. These factors overlap and affect