Responding to variations in mortality due to intrapartum asphyxia

Abstract

The mortality rate due to intrapartum asphyxia is generally considered a good guide to the quality of perinatal care. Using a routine system of surveillance, we identified a six‐fold difference in mortality rate due to intrapartum asphyxia depending on the hospital of birth, with the lowest rate (95 per cent confidence intervals) of 0.25 (0.10, 0.64)/1,000 births and the highest rate of 1.59 (0.77, 3.27)/1,000 births. A framework of internal and external reviews of the clinical services was developed, that is able to tackle such clinical governance issues in a robust but sensitive manner. The outcome included specific improvements in service provision. The model is generally applicable and is thus suitable for use wherever such clinical governance issues are identified.

Citation

Thomas, S.C., Guildea, Z.E.S., Stewart, J.H. and Cartlidge, P.H.T. (2003), "Responding to variations in mortality due to intrapartum asphyxia", Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Vol. 8 No. 4, pp. 296-299. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777270310499379