Study on infant death caused by conditions originating in the perinatal period in Taiwan

Wei-Gang Huang, Bureau of Health Promotion, Taiwan
Li-Chuan Chen, Bureau of Health Promotion, Taiwan
Su-Ru Wu, Bureau of Health Promotion, Taiwan

Background: The infant mortality rate in Taiwan has been decreasing from 8.9/1000 in 1981 to 4.7/1000 in 2007, and the mortality rate for infants suffering certain conditions originating in the perinatal period has been decreasing from 266.87/100,000 in 1999 to 238.2/100,000 in 2007. In 2007, the top one of main causes for infant death in Taiwan are Certain Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period, the structure ratio of infant death causes has increased from 26.62% in 1992 to 50.8% in 2007. Study Purposes The purpose of this study is to explore associated factors of infants suffering from certain conditions originating in the perinatal period. Methods Taiwan Death Registration Database, Birth Reporting Database, Birth Registration Database and National Health Insurance Databank were merged with ID to derive cases for analysis. Result Demographic features of infants dying from certain conditions originating in the perinatal period were 56.74% of male and :43.26％ of female, 68.62% of low birth weight of less than 1500g, 70.31% of gestational age of less than 32 weeks, 5.5% of Congenital defects. Sixty percent of deaths caused by certain conditions originating in the perinatal period are low birth weight and premature birth. Fetus and infant respiratory disorder is another important cause (10%). Associated factors of premature birth were age of mother delivery, birth weight, birth parity, nationality, frequency of prenatal check-up, and health risk factors of pregnancy. Associated factors of low birth weight birth were same as premature birth. Conclusion Organize pregnant outpatient services for high risk groups, and strengthen outpatient consultation, health education and necessary procedures are important issues to decrease infant the rate of death caused by conditions originating in the perinatal period in Taiwan.