TRENDS IN REGISTERED PERINATAL DEATHS
In 2009, there were 2,671 perinatal deaths registered in Australia, compared with 2,501 registered in 2008, an increase of 6.8%. This was 5.4% higher than the number registered in 2000 (2,534).
The number of fetal deaths in 2009 was 1,780, 8.0% more than the number registered in 2008, and representing an increase of 6.7% over the last decade (1,668 in 2000).
891 neonatal deaths were registered in 2009, 4.5% higher than the number registered in 2008 (853 deaths), and a 2.9% increase from registrations in 2000 (866 deaths).
In 2009, there were 1,470 male perinatal deaths and 1,201 female perinatal deaths. The sex ratio was 122 male perinatal deaths for every 100 female perinatal deaths, compared with 120 males per 100 females in 2008.
In the 10 year period from 2000 to 2009, the lowest perinatal death rate was recorded in 2008 (8.4 deaths per 1,000 total births), while the highest perinatal death rate was recorded in 2005 (10.6 deaths per 1,000 total births) (see Glossary and Appendix 1: Data used in calculating death rates).
A similar trend was seen for fetal deaths, with 5.5 deaths per 1,000 total births in 2008 compared to 7.0 deaths per 1,000 total births in 2005.
During the same 10 year period the lowest neonatal death rate was recorded in 2008 (2.9 deaths per 1,000 live births), however the highest rate during the period was recorded in 2001 (3.7 deaths per 1,000 live births).
TRENDS IN PERINATAL DEATHS (a)
Fetal, Neonatal and Perinatal Deaths(a)(b)(c), by sex(d) - Number and death rates(e) - 2000, 2007-2009(f)(g)(h) |
|
 | | 2000 | | 2007(f) | | 2008(g) | | 2009(h) | |
| | No. | Rate(e) | No. | Rate(e) | No. | Rate(e) | No. | Rate(e) |
|
| Fetal | | | | | | | | |
| Males(d) | 900 | 7.0 | 874 | 5.9 | 877 | 5.7 | 960 | 6.3 |
| Females | 768 | 6.3 | 802 | 5.7 | 771 | 5.3 | 820 | 5.7 |
| Persons | 1668 | 6.6 | 1676 | 5.8 | 1648 | 5.5 | 1780 | 6.0 |
| Neonatal | | | | | | | | |
| Males(d) | 490 | 3.8 | 461 | 3.1 | 487 | 3.2 | 510 | 3.4 |
| Females | 376 | 3.1 | 395 | 2.8 | 366 | 2.5 | 381 | 2.7 |
| Persons | 866 | 3.5 | 856 | 3.0 | 853 | 2.9 | 891 | 3.0 |
| Perinatal | | | | | | | | |
| Males(d) | 1390 | 10.8 | 1335 | 9.1 | 1364 | 8.9 | 1470 | 9.6 |
| Females | 1144 | 9.4 | 1197 | 8.6 | 1137 | 7.8 | 1201 | 8.3 |
| Persons | 2534 | 10.1 | 2532 | 8.8 | 2501 | 8.4 | 2671 | 9.0 |
|
| (a) Fetal deaths of at least 20 weeks gestation or with a birth weight of at least 400 grams. See Glossary for more information. |
| (b) Neonatal death is death of a live born baby within 28 completed days of birth. See Glossary for more information. |
| (c) Perinatal deaths are all fetal deaths (at least 20 weeks gestation or at least 400 grams birth weight) plus all neonatal deaths. See Glossary for further information. |
| (d) Male deaths include those perinatal deaths of sex indeterminate. |
| (e) Fetal death rates and perinatal death rates are calculated per 1,000 all births for the calendar year. Neonatal death rates are calculated per 1,000 live births for the calendar year. See Glossary for further information. |
| (f) Causes of death data for 2007 have undergone two years of revisions. See Explanatory Notes 28-32 in Causes of Death, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 3303.0). |
| (g) Causes of death data for 2008 have been revised and are subject to further revisions. See Explanatory Notes 28-32 in Causes of Death, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 3303.0). |
| (h) Causes of death data for 2009 are preliminary and subject to a revisions process. See Explanatory Notes 28-32 in Causes of Death, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 3303.0). |
Quality Declaration 
Print Page
Print All