Comparative assessment of mortality and lethality rates of newborns at the regional level

Abstract

In order to assess the mortality and lethality rates of newborns in obstetric organizations of the North-Western Federal District in 2013–2019, a comparative analysis of official statistics data was carried out. It was found that in the North-Western Federal District in the period from 2013 to 2019, there was an almost annual decrease in newborn mortality rates. The overall decrease in mortality in maternity care organizations of the Federal District (from 2,5% to 1,9%) was mainly due to a decrease in mortality in obstetric hospitals of the first and second levels (respectively from 3,2% to 1,2% and from 1,7% to 0,7%), while most children died in perinatal centers, where the mortality rate has not changed in recent years (2013 – 4,1%; 2019 – 4,0%). The study showed a decrease in mortality rates in the subjects of the Russian Federation that are part of the federal district, except for the city of St. Petersburg. The average hospital lethality rate of newborns in maternity care organizations of the North-Western Federal District during 2013–2019 was in the range of 1,9%–2,0%, did not change significantly and corresponded to the national average. However, the level of hospital lethality significantly differed in individual subjects of the district – in more than half of them, the level of hospital lethality exceeded the average, while in others it was significantly lower. Thus, the decrease in the mortality and lethality rates of newborns in maternity care organizations indicates an increase in the quality of medical care for children in the North-Western Federal District. dicates an increase in the quality of medical care for children in the North-Western Federal District.