[International comparison of perinatal care in the Czech Republic from the WHO viewpoint]

To verify the excellent level of perinatal care in the Czech Republic in the world-wide context.

International comparative perinatal epidemiologic study.

Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague.

Analysis of the relationship of perinatal mortality and 8 other selected indicators of perinatal care in 40 countries with perinatal mortality lower than 10 per thousand out of 192 WHO members states.

The analysis pointed out than only 6-8 countries achieved the currently lowest perinatal mortality of 4-6 per thousand (out of which less than 2 per thousand are due to the ENM and 2-3 fold more due to the stillbirts, as well the lowest infant mortality (3-5 per thousand) and maternal mortality ratio (less than 15/100 live-born babies). The frequency od CS which was not above 20% in these countries was not interrelated with either perinatal or maternal mortality. In the Czech Republic, all the indicators were closer to lower levels what indicates that the Czech Republic belongs to the countries with the best results. The decreasing perinatal and maternal mortality led to the increasing expenses for the care and these were in negative correlation with the population density. The population density has an impact on the network of health care facilities and on the transport system of pregnant women, pathological newborns and newborn of very low birthweight to perinatal centers.

Based on the results of the comparative analysis of perinatal mortality and 8 other selected indicators we can evaluate their reliability and also the level of perinatal care. The Czech Republic belongs among countries with the lowest perinatal mortality in the world.