Study on Reliability of Maternal and Child Health Indicators

Abstract

The author has investigated what proportion of the reported cases of foetal death and of neonatal death did not coincide with the facts, and has conducted the following research. The subject was foetal deaths and neonatal deaths reported from 1960 to 1964 at Hiketa town (population was about 12, 000), Kagawa Prefecture. The methods consisted of two kinds of surveys; a written one for medical persons including midwives who were at deliveries or who certified the foetal deaths on paper, and the other conducted by interview was for mothers who delivered the reported dead foetus or babies of neonatal deaths. The results were as follows:1. Nine live births were included among 24 reported foetal deaths (37.5%).2. One foetal death was included among 28 reported infant deaths.3. The real values calculated from the adjusted number shown below as attached percentages, are different from the reported indicies as follows: infant death rate +21.1% neonatal death rate +30.8% neonatal death rate within a week after birth +37.1% total foetal death rate -15.9% natural foetal death rate -25.0% late foetal death ratio -35.8%4. The reasons why some neonatal deaths were reported as foetal deaths, are as follows. 1) Mothers and their families wanted to keep their census registration as simple as possible. 2) They also didn't want duplicated reporting in case of infant deaths. 3) They didn't have clear knowledge to distinguish between foetal and infant death. 4) Medical persons who attended the deliveries accepted the wants of mothers concerned.5. The perinatal death rate was recognized to be a reliable health index.