Description:
This indicator measures the perinatal mortality rate per 1,000 births (stillbirths plus deaths in the first week of life).
Source of Data:
This data is sourced from the National Records of Scotland, using Vital Statistics.
This data, and more information about this publication can be found at the National Records of Scotland website.
Definitions:
Perinatal deaths – Stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life.
Stillbirths- Children born after the 24th week of pregnancy (gestations of 24 weeks or longer) which do not breathe or show any other sign of life.
Perinatal mortality rates are calculated per 1,000 live and stillbirths.
Section 56(1) of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 defined a stillbirth as a child born after the 28th week of pregnancy and which did not breathe or show any other sign of life. The Still-Birth (Definition) Act 1992, which came into effect on 1 October 1992, amended Section 56(1) of the 1965 Act (and other relevant UK legislation), replacing the reference to the 28th week with a reference to the 24th week.
This data shows figures for all gestation of 24 weeks or longer. But to assist in the interpretation of trends, NRS source data tables show figures based on both the old and new definitions.
Geographical breakdowns – The figures are based on the local authority and health board of residence of the mother when the perinatal death is recorded, if she was a resident in Scotland. Where the mother is resident elsewhere or her place of residence is unknown, the local authority and health board of occurrence is used.
Criteria for Change:
The proposal for a change in perinatal mortality between the current year and the previous year, based on a statistically significant change (based on 99% confidence intervals) would imply:
- improving if the perinatal mortality rates decreases by 0.89 deaths or more per 1,000 births
- worsening if the perinatal mortality rates increases by 0.89 deaths or more per 1,000 births
- maintaining if the perinatal mortality rates changes by less 0.89 deaths per 1,000 births
NRS do not attach confidence intervals to this data when published. For the purposes of the NPF update, a 99% confidence interval has been used to keep this consistent with what has been used in previous updates for this indicator. The figure has been adjusted for the rate and population in 2021.