Maternal-child health system and perinatal mortality in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates has witnessed extensive social and economic development during the past 2 decades. Significant demographic changes have also taken place mainly as a result of the continuous flow of expatriates. The development of the health care delivery system resulted in the reduction of the infant mortality rate by 25% (10.93 per thousand live births by 1992), but the perinatal mortality rate has remained almost unchanged. Although maternal and child health care has improved dramatically, its limited impact on perinatal mortality can be attributed to underutilization of maternal health centers, absence of screening programs for mothers at high risk, absence of regionalization of perinatal care centers, poor maternal and neonatal transport facilities, absence of effective referral and cooperation and interaction between hospitals and health centers, the limited number of nursing and medical staff, and, finally, underutilization of available information to support and enhance research. The national perinatal mortality survey may address and seek appropriate solutions to such problems.