[Increase in reporting of child deaths; analysis of recent forensic services data]

We investigated the degree of reporting of child deaths in 2017 and compared this with data from 2012. Furthermore, we assessed the characteristics of these deaths and in how many cases the forensic doctor performed a post-mortem examination.

Observational research.

We requested data from 25 public health services (GGDs in Dutch) and the private organization Forensisch Artsen Rotterdam-Rijnmond (FARR) concerning child deaths that occurred in 2017. We distinguished between stillbirths, live births with death occurring ≤28 days post-partum and live births with death occurring > 28 days post-partum. Using mortality figures for 2017 obtained from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the percentage of child death cases where discussions took place between the treating physician and a forensic doctor was determined both at regional and national level.

In 2017, a total of 928 out of 1303 child death cases known to CBS was reported to the regional forensic doctor; this means a reporting rate of over 70%. For stillbirths the national reporting rate was 46.0% (200/435), for live births who died ≤ 28 days post-partum 84.0% (300/357) and for live births where death occurred > 28 days post-partum 83.8% (428/511). The reporting rate differed per province, Zuid-Holland having the highest reporting rate (93.1%) and Gelderland the lowest (74.1%). The reporting rate increased compared to 2012 in relation to stillbirths as well as live births. The forensic doctor was most likely to perform a post-mortem examination in cases where the death occurred outside the hospital and where it involved the death of minors older than 28 days.

Treating physicians are increasingly fulfilling their legal obligation to report deceased minors to a forensic doctor, but the reporting rate is still not 100%. We therefore advise continued investment in order to improve the reporting rate, especially in regions where figures lag behind the national average.