The International Classification of Disease Perinatal Mortality (ICDPM) is a global strategy to end the silent epidemic

Abstract

A significant proportion of perinatal deaths are preventable. The most critical factor contributing to the failure of international programs aimed at reducing preventable perinatal deaths is the lack of sufficient and accurate information about the causes of these deaths. This deficiency hinders countries' ability to develop effective interventions to reduce perinatal mortality rates. Various classification systems have been developed to categorize the causes of perinatal deaths, aiming to enhance understanding and prevention efforts. However, these systems face challenges, including assigning a considerable portion of perinatal deaths to unknown causes and limitations in usability in developing countries with high perinatal mortality rates. The need for a comprehensive and unified international system for classifying the causes of perinatal mortality is crucial due to the diverse classification systems currently in use, which hinder data comparison at national and international levels. The purpose of this editorial study is to introduce the first classification system of causes of perinatal mortality with international applicability developed by the World Health Organization.

Keywords

• perinatal deaths
• icdpm
• international classification of diseases