Article Text

Download PDFPDF

Two-year study of the causes of postperinatal deaths classified in terms of preventability.
  1. E M Taylor,
  2. J L Emery

    Abstract

    A detailed pathological and psychosocial study was made of all postperinatal (8 days-2 years) deaths in Sheffield during a 2-year period. The cause of death was classified from the point of view of possible prevention. Of the total of 65 deaths, 35 were unpreventable after the perinatal period, but 9 might have been preventable before birth. Of the 30 other deaths, 20 had evidence of possible treatable disease, and for the majority of these adverse social factors could be identified. Proved non-accidental injury occurred in 2 children and in 3 others there was a high degree of suspicion of 'gentle battering'. Only in 4 children was death unexplained and this apparently represents the local true unexplained cot death rate of 0.16/1000 births.

    Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.