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The objective of this section is to present the best available data on a wide range of health and related indicators.  This should provide health planners and managers with easy access to data from a variety of sources.

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Perinatal mortality rate (deaths <8 days old per 1 000 total births)

DefinitionThe number of perinatal deaths per 1 000 births. The perinatal period starts as the beginning of foetal viability (28 weeks gestation or 1 000g) and ends at the end of the 7th day after delivery. Perinatal deaths are the sum of stillbirths plus early neonatal deaths. These are divided by total births (live births plus stillbirths).

Note that the current WHO definition of PNMR is different from the definition used in South Africa, being the number of deaths from 24 weeks gestation/500g to 28 days neonatal life. As from the Saving Babies 2003-2005 report, reporting has been brought into line with the international standard of reporting according to all births =>500g.

The PNMR is the most sensitive indicator of obstetric care. For developed countries the rate for babies over 1 000g is usually less than 6/1000 births, whereas for developing countries PNMR ranges from 30-200.
ReferencePattinson RC, editor. Saving Babies: A perinatal care survey of South Africa 2000. South Africa: Medical Research Council; 2000.
Ref. URLhttp://www.hst.org.za/publications/428
Detailspg 4
Keywords
Indicator Type: -> Health Status -> Mortality -> Child mortality and related

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Indicator Data
View by [Ethnic] [Geographic (SA provinces)] [International] [District]

ECFSGPKZNLPMPNCNWWCZA
Perinatal mortality rate (deaths <8 days old per 1 000 total births) [Definition]
2000 Public sector--[1] 32.1-----[2] 18.4[3] 40.0
2002 35.040.337.035.029.030.032.043.320.2[4] -
2003 DHIS44.044.436.150.745.043.745.4[5] -23.1[6] 38.4
2004 DHIS42.451.832.041.338.541.042.9[7] -26.6[8] 38.2
2005 DHIS49.239.732.240.335.446.132.6[9] -25.4[10] 34.9
2006 DHIS40.337.627.435.532.731.238.136.825.2[11] 33.1
2006 PPIP =>1000g25.524.125.519.826.029.743.330.218.6[12] 27.9
2006 PPIP =>500g32.3[13] 33.0-26.530.436.5-34.032.2[14] 37.5
EC: Eastern Cape  FS: Free State  GP: Gauteng  KZN: KwaZulu-Natal  LP: Limpopo  MP: Mpumalanga  NC: Northern Cape  NW: North West  WC: Western Cape  ZA: South Africa  

Notes and References

  1. Saving Babies 2000: Pattinson RC, editor. Saving Babies: A perinatal care survey of South Africa 2000. South Africa: Medical Research Council; 2000. http://www.hst.org.za/publications/428
    Local copy: http://www.hst.org.za/indicators/ChildHealth/Saving_Babies_2000.pdf
    Data only available for perinatal care in public sector institutions.
  2. Saving Babies 2000: Pattinson RC, editor. Saving Babies: A perinatal care survey of South Africa 2000. South Africa: Medical Research Council; 2000. http://www.hst.org.za/publications/428
    Local copy: http://www.hst.org.za/indicators/ChildHealth/Saving_Babies_2000.pdf
    Data only available for perinatal care in public sector institutions.
  3. Saving Babies 2000: Pattinson RC, editor. Saving Babies: A perinatal care survey of South Africa 2000. South Africa: Medical Research Council; 2000. http://www.hst.org.za/publications/428
    Local copy: http://www.hst.org.za/indicators/ChildHealth/Saving_Babies_2000.pdf
    There is insufficient data to accurately calculate the national PNMR, however from existing data it is estimated that the rate is in the order of 40/1 000 births.
  4. Saving Babies 2002: Pattinson RC, editor. Saving Babies 2002: Third Perinatal Care Survey of South Africa. Pretoria: Department of Health; 2003. http://www.ppip.co.za/
    Local copy: http://www.hst.org.za/indicators/ChildHealth/Saving_Babies_2002.pdf
  5. Value is implausible.
  6. DHIS: District Health Information System Database. National Department of Health.
    Local copy: -
    Data extracted June 2006
  7. Value is implausible.
  8. DHIS: District Health Information System Database. National Department of Health.
    Local copy: -
    Data extracted June 2006
  9. Value is implausible.
  10. DHIS: District Health Information System Database. National Department of Health.
    Local copy: -
    Data extracted June 2006
  11. DHIS: District Health Information System Database. National Department of Health.
    Local copy: -
    Data extracted July 2007.
  12. Saving Babies 2003-2005: MRC Research Unit for Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies, PPIP Users and the Saving Babies Technical Task Team. Saving Babies 2003-2005: Fifth Perinatal Care Survey of South Africa. Pretoria; 2007. http://www.ppip.co.za/
    Local copy: http://www.hst.org.za/indicators/ChildHealth/Saving_Babies_2003-5.pdf
    Data from Oct 2003 - Mar 2006 on all deaths =>1 000g.
  13. Data from Jan-Dec 2006.
  14. Saving Babies 2003-2005: MRC Research Unit for Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies, PPIP Users and the Saving Babies Technical Task Team. Saving Babies 2003-2005: Fifth Perinatal Care Survey of South Africa. Pretoria; 2007. http://www.ppip.co.za/
    Local copy: http://www.hst.org.za/indicators/ChildHealth/Saving_Babies_2003-5.pdf
    Data from Oct 2003 - Mar 2006 on all deaths =>500g.
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