Medical and life-style risk factors affecting fetal mortality, 1989-90

This report presents fetal mortality data by medical and life-style risk factors of the mother and the fetus.

Deaths and fetal mortality rates are presented in this descriptive report. Data sources used are vital statistics data for fetal deaths and live births.

The data that became available with the revision of the U.S. Standard Report of Fetal Death in 1989 expanded the medical and health data available on mothers and fetuses. Reporting of medical conditions is probably incomplete for fetal deaths as well as for live births. Therefore, caution should be exercised in using this data. Reported occurrences of medical and life-style risk factors of mother and fetus for fetal deaths and live births and fetal mortality rates are presented. Maternal medical conditions most often associated with having a fetal death were problems with amniotic fluid levels and blood disorders. Fetal mortality was 35 percent greater when tobacco was used during pregnancy and 77 percent higher when alcohol was consumed during pregnancy. The complication of labor most often associated with fetal mortality was abruptio placenta. Although a very small proportion of all deliveries have specific congenital anomalies reported, fetal mortality was close to 50 percent for anencephalus, about 25 percent for renal agenesis, and slightly more than 20 percent for hydrocephalus.