Perinatal mortality in Southland

A review of Southland's perinatal mortality was undertaken from 1971 to 1977 and included 237 deaths with a post mortem rate of 90 percent. During this period, the perinatal mortality rate fell to below the national average. Prematurity remains the most important single factor. Seventy-four percent of confinements are attended solely by general practitioner obstetricians. Fetal monitoring of high risk pregnancies in labour markedly reduces the intrapartum death rate of mature babies.