Perinatal mortality in the Greater Harare Obstetric Unit area

There were 1,563 known perinatal deaths among 45,343 births during 1983 in the Greater Harare Obstetric Unit area. The perinatal mortality rate was 34.5/1,000 for infants weighing greater than or equal to 500 g, and 26.9/1,000 for infants weighing greater than or equal to 1,000 g. The perinatal mortality rate for booked patients was 20.9/1,000 for infants weighing greater than or equal to 1,000 g. All the perinatal deaths were analysed. Immaturity was the leading known cause of perinatal death, accounting for 19.3% of the cases. Areas requiring further study to establish preventable factors in perinatal deaths are highlighted.