Perinatal Mortality Rate Calculator
The Perinatal Mortality Rate (PMR) is a vital public health indicator that measures the number of fetal and early neonatal deaths per 1,000 total births. It provides crucial insight into the quality of health care delivery during pregnancy, childbirth, and the immediate postnatal period.
This calculator allows healthcare professionals, researchers, and students to quickly determine the PMR based on standardized input data regarding stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and live births.
How to Calculate Perinatal Mortality Rate
Perinatal mortality encompasses the period surrounding birth. Specifically, it includes deaths that occur from the 22nd week of gestation (or 28th week, depending on the specific definition used by local health authorities) up to 7 completed days after birth.
The Formula
The standard formula used to calculate the Perinatal Mortality Rate is:
Where:
- Stillbirths (Fetal Deaths): Death of a fetus prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother (typically after 22 or 28 weeks gestation).
- Early Neonatal Deaths: Deaths of live-born infants within the first 7 days of life (0-6 days).
- Total Births: The sum of Live Births and Stillbirths.
Example Calculation
Consider a regional hospital with the following annual statistics:
- Number of Live Births: 5,000
- Number of Stillbirths: 50
- Number of Early Neonatal Deaths: 20
Step 1: Calculate Total Perinatal Deaths
50 (Stillbirths) + 20 (Early Neonatal Deaths) = 70
Step 2: Calculate Total Births
5,000 (Live Births) + 50 (Stillbirths) = 5,050
Step 3: Apply Formula
(70 ÷ 5,050) × 1,000 = 13.86
The Perinatal Mortality Rate is 13.86 per 1,000 total births.
Interpretation of Results
The PMR reflects factors such as maternal health, prenatal care quality, and obstetric management during delivery.
| Rate Range (approx.) | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 10 per 1,000 | Typically seen in high-income countries with advanced neonatal intensive care and universal prenatal screening. |
| 10 – 40 per 1,000 | Common in middle-income settings; may indicate gaps in access to specialized obstetric care. |
| > 40 per 1,000 | Often seen in low-resource settings, indicating urgent need for improved maternal and newborn health interventions. |
Definitions and Variables
Fetal Death (Stillbirth): The death of a product of human conception prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother. This is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or extraction the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles.
Early Neonatal Death: The death of a live-born child that occurs during the first 7 days of life (0 to 6 days).
Total Births: This is the denominator of the equation. It is crucial to include stillbirths in this number, not just live births, to strictly follow the WHO definition of perinatal mortality.