| Perinatal mortality rates do not contain what they purport to contain. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 6144886 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Three cases of perinatal death, of which two needed to be included in and one excluded from national perinatal mortality statistics, were presented to 1004 specialist and trainee obstetricians in northern Belgium (ie, Flanders) and the Netherlands. Of the respondents (52%), 69% admitted that they would report none of the cases and 13% would report all of them. Overreporting occurred twice as often and underreporting ten times as often as correct reporting--only 6% would apply the current regulations for registration of perinatal mortality correctly in all three cases. Although the statutory regulations with regard to the cases were similar in the two countries, there were differences between Belgian and Dutch doctors in their reporting of these three cases. This indicates that Belgian and Dutch perinatal mortality statistics do not measure the same thing and that neither contains what it purports to contain. The findings cast doubts on the validity of using national perinatal mortality figures as indicators of perinatal health or perinatal care in and between European countries. 3 cases of perinatal death, of which 2 needed to be included in and 1 excluded from national perinatal mortality statistics, were presented to 1004 specialist and trainee obstetricians in northern Belgium and the Netherlands. Of the respondents (52%), 69% admitted that they would report none of the cases and 13% would report all of them. Overreporting occurred twice as often and underreporting 10 times as often as correct reporting--only 6% would apply the current regulations for registration of perinatal mortality correctly in all 3 cases. Although the statutory regulations with regard to the cases were similar in the 2 countries, there were differences between Belgian and Dutch doctors in their reporting of these 3 cases. This indicates that Belgian and Dutch perinatal mortality statistics do not measure the same thing and that neither contains what it purports to contain. The findings cast doubt on the validity of using national perinatal mortality figures as indicators of perinatal health or perinatal care in and between European countries. |
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Authors:
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M J Keirse |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Lancet Volume: 1 ISSN: 0140-6736 ISO Abbreviation: Lancet Publication Date: 1984 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1984-07-09 Completed Date: 1984-07-09 Revised Date: 2007-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 2985213R Medline TA: Lancet Country: ENGLAND |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1166-9 Citation Subset: AIM; IM; J |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Anencephaly Attitude of Health Personnel Belgium Death Certificates* Female Fetal Death* Humans Infant Mortality* Infant, Newborn Legislation, Medical Netherlands Obstetrics Pregnancy Records as Topic Statistics as Topic |
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