Neonatal mortality among outborn versus inborn babies
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 22, 2026
Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
Published on: August 24, 2011
Wan-Hsuan Chen1, Chung-Hao Su1, Li-Chun Lin2
1Department of Pediatrics, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Chiayi, Taiwan.
Insights
Outborn babies had higher neonatal mortality rates than inborn babies, especially for those weighing 1000-2499g. Improving maternal transport to perinatal centers may enhance outcomes for these vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal outcomes
- Perinatal care
- Public health
Background:
- Previous studies indicate higher survival rates for low birth weight infants born in tertiary perinatal centers (inborn) compared to those born elsewhere (outborn).
- The trends in the number and ratio of outborn infants, as well as their associated neonatal mortality, require ongoing examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in the number and ratio of outborn infants over time.
- To compare neonatal mortality rates between inborn and outborn infants across different birth weight categories.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pooled data from the Taiwan Clinical Effectiveness Index (2011-2016).
- Analyzed outborn/inborn infant numbers and neonatal mortality rates.
- Stratified analysis by birth body weight.
Main Results:
- The number of outborn infants did not decrease annually.
- The ratio of outborn infants was lower in the 750-999g and ≥2500g birth weight groups.
- Significantly higher neonatal mortality rates were observed in outborn infants within the 1000-1499g, 2000-2499g, and ≥2500g birth weight categories compared to inborn infants.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal mortality rates remain higher for outborn infants in specific birth weight strata.
- Enhanced maternal transport systems promoting in utero transfers could potentially improve neonatal outcomes.
Background:
Most previous studies reported there were higher survival rates if low birth weight babies were born in tertiary perinatal centers (inborn) than elsewhere (outborn). The objective of this study is to examine whether the number and ratio of outborn babies decrease and the neonatal mortality differs between inborn and outborn babies.
Methods:
We used the pooled data of the Taiwan Clinical Effectiveness Index for the years 2011-2016 obtained from the Joint Commission of Taiwan to study the outborn/inborn number and neonatal mortality rate.
Results:
We found that the number of outborn babies did not decrease year by year. The ratio of outborn to total babies was lower in the groups of birth body weight 750-999 g and ≧ 2500 g than the other groups. The neonatal mortality rate in outborns was significantly higher than the inborns in the groups of birth body weight 1000-1499 g, 2000-2499 g and ≧ 2500 g (6.9 ± 2.4 vs. 3.8 ± 0.9, P = 0.009, 2.6 ± 0.6 vs. 0.6 ± 0.3, P = 0.002 and 1.52 ± 0.67 vs. 0.08 ± 0.02, P = 0.002, respectively) in medical centers.
Conclusion:
Improved maternal transport which promotes in utero transfer of patients may further improve neonatal outcome.
