Developing professional responsibility in maternity care in Hong Kong

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Public Health
• Perinatal Medicine

Background:

• Perinatal mortality remains a significant concern in public health.
• Understanding the causes and patterns of perinatal deaths is crucial for improving outcomes.
• A systematic audit of perinatal deaths can identify areas for clinical and resource improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document basic information on all perinatal deaths in Hong Kong.
• To analyze the main causes of perinatal mortality.
• To compare the performance of different types of maternity units.

Main Methods:

• A simple questionnaire was distributed to all maternity units.
• Coordinators were appointed in each unit to collect data.
• Data were collated and analyzed by the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society with minimal budget and volunteer time.

Main Results:

• The primary causes of perinatal death were congenital anomalies, intrauterine death of unknown cause, and prematurity.
• Significant differences in performance were observed when comparing university-affiliated units with private and government units.

Conclusions:

• The audit highlights key areas for intervention in perinatal care.
• Recommendations for changes in resource allocation and clinical practice modifications are suggested.
• Such audits are valuable for quality improvement in obstetrics and gynaecology.