[Regional differences in perinatal mortality: the relationship with various aspects of perinatal care]

Regional differences in perinatal mortality in the period 1980-1984 were studied, and the associations with a number of aspects of perinatal care were investigated: percentage of home deliveries, percentage of deliveries supervised by a gynaecologist, and the presence of a 'level 2' or 'level 3' hospital. The analysis controlled for a number of possible confounding variables. For total perinatal mortality, the stillbirth rate and first-week mortality due to birth injury a negative association was found with the presence of a level 2 hospital. For the stillbirth rate a positive association was found with the percentage of home deliveries. The first-week mortality due to a group of 'other' causes of death was positively associated with the percentage of deliveries supervised by a gynaecologist.