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The search for perinatal definitions and standards
Insights
International perinatal terminology has advanced over 60 years, standardizing terms for birthweight, gestational age, and infant mortality statistics. This progress supports a unified approach to measuring infant growth during the perinatal period.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Medical Statistics
- International Health Standards
Background:
- Significant progress has been achieved in establishing international consensus on perinatal terminology over the past six decades.
- Existing agreed-upon terms cover crucial areas such as birthweight, gestational age, and the compilation of perinatal mortality and morbidity data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the advancements in international agreement on perinatal terminology.
- To define currently utilized terms for birthweight, gestational age, and perinatal statistics.
- To advocate for a standardized international methodology for infant growth assessment in the perinatal period.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical progress in international perinatal terminology.
- Definition and statement of currently agreed-upon terms.
- Argumentation for a standardized international methodology.
Main Results:
- Established international agreement on key perinatal terms.
- Defined terms for birthweight, gestational age, and perinatal statistics are in current use.
- A need for a unified methodology for infant growth measurement is highlighted.
Conclusions:
- International collaboration has successfully standardized critical perinatal terminology.
- Standardized definitions facilitate accurate collection and reporting of perinatal health data.
- An internationally agreed methodology for infant growth measurement is essential for future perinatal research and clinical practice.
Abstract:
Progress made during the last 60 years in reaching international agreement on perinatal terminology is reviewed. Agreed terms currently in use in respect to birthweight, gestational age and the collection of perinatal mortality and morbidity statistics are stated and defined. Arguments are advanced in support of an internationally agreed methodology for the measurement and reporting of infant growth in the perinatal period.