Confidential inquiry into perinatal deaths in the Mersey region. Mersey Region Working Party on Perinatal Mortality.

In a confidential inquiry into perinatal deaths in the Mersey region in 1979 obstetric and paediatric assessors reviewed the circumstances surrounding each case in order to identify any avoidable factors contributing to the death. The area covered by the inquiry was determined by the mother's place of residence and related to 58% of total births (liver births and stillbirths) and 61% of perinatal deaths in the region. Avoidable factors were present in 182 (59%) of the 309 perinatal deaths. Low-birthweight infants (less than or equal to 2500 g) with no maternal complications comprised the largest category, with 86 cases of which 52 (60%) had avoidable factors. There were also avoidable factors in 31 out of the 42 normal-birthweight infants (greater than 2500 g) without fetal abnormalities and having no maternal complications. 10 of the 11 (91%) perinatal deaths due to rhesus incompatibility and avoidable factors.