The temporal association of the implementation of a fetal diagnostic and surveillance program and decreased fetal mortality in a private hospital.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a temporal association between the introduction of a Fetal Diagnostic and Treatment Center and changes in fetal mortality. Two consecutive 15-month pre-program periods (periods I and II) were compared with one 15-month post-program period (period III). The fetal death rates for the pre-program periods I (6.16) and II (6.02) were similar, and the combined rate was 6.09. After the introduction of the Fetal Diagnostic and Treatment Center, the fetal mortality rate decreased to 2.31 (period III). When periods I and II were compared with period III, the major decrease (73.8%) in fetal mortality occurred for fetuses of greater than 34 weeks' gestation. The perinatal mortality rate decreased from 8.76 in periods I and II to 4.42 in period III, reflecting the decrease in fetal deaths.