Perinatal mortality and morbidity at Dr. Pirngadi Hospital Medan 1985-1986

A retrospective study was conducted on babies born during January 1985 to December 1986 at Dr. Pirngadi Hospital Medan. The aim of this study was to evaluate perinatal mortality and morbidity, and various possible factors related to the subject matter. The main results can be summarized as follows: There were 7102 deliveries during the study period consisting of 999 babies weighing less than 2500 gram and 6103 with body weight of 2500 gram or more. Perinatal mortality rate was 563.56% in the first group and 78.49% in the second while the overall++ mortality rate was 146.72%. Rate of perinatal demise was high in babies born from mothers in the age groups of below 20 and above 35 years, namely 681.82% and 202.19%. It was also high among primiparae (165.67%) and more so among grandmultiparae (246.46%). There were 1966 (30.49%) ill newborn babies with asphyxia neonatorum accounting for 44.91%, infection 30.42% and respiratory problems 9.21% of the main causes of illness, while respiratory problems (40.05%) and infection (28.68%) constituted the main causes of death. We concluded that the rate of perinatal mortality and morbidity is still high at this hospital. Quality of prenatal and neonatal care with extensive public health education is necessary to be enhanced for the reduction of perinatal mortality and morbidity.