[Perinatal mortality at the Hospital Center of Libreville (Gabon)]

A study of the work carried out in the obstetrical department during the years 1985, 1986 and 1987 shows there was a corrected perinatal mortality of 32.61 per 1,000. This involved 776 deaths out of 23,980 births of babies weighing 1,000 g. or more. Research as to the causes showed that the largest reasons for these deaths were maternal and fetal infections (28.9% of the aetiology of perinatal mortality). In 35.1% of cases there was obstetrical trauma leading to intrapartum anoxia and prematurity was responsible for 63.7% of deaths associated with other causes. These figures can be reduced if there is better antenatal care in Maternity and Paediatric Centres with teams that are competent and that are properly trained, and on the other hand the delivery rooms are rebuilt in such a way as to make it possible to supervise labours and deliveries and to look after the newborn children immediately problems involving newborn care are found.