Number of deadborn fetuses with a birth weight of 1000 g or more

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Data set notes

European Health for All database

Indicators: 565

Updated: 18 October 2024

Contact: Data and Digital Health Unit (DDH)

The following abbreviations are used in the indicator titles:

• SDR: age-standardized death rates (see HFA-DB user manual/Technical notes, page 13, for details)

• FTE: full-time equivalent

• PP: physical persons

• PPP$: purchasing power parities expressed in US $, an internationally comparable scale reflecting the relative domestic purchasing powers of currencies.

More information: http://www.euro.who.int/en/data-and-evidence/databases/european-health-for-all-database-hfa-db

Indicator notes

Number of deadborn fetuses with a birth weight of 1000 g or more
Indicator code: E075001.T

Fetal death is death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy; the death is indicated by the fact that after such separation 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. This data item is used to calculate the perinatal mortality rate and includes only fetuses with a weight of 1000 g or more (as recommended for international comparisons). See ICD-9/10 manual for details. (Data are received from countries for HFA monitoring purposes or extracted from national statistical yearbooks.) Mortinatality rate: (Fetal deaths)/(total births) * 1000_

Country/Area notes

Albania

INSTAT.

Armenia

Source of data: National Health Information Analytic Center, Ministry of Health of the Republic of
Armenia http://moh.am/?section=static_pages/index&id=625&subID=824,29
Data collected annually, reference period: 31 December.

Belgium

Source: Statistics Belgium (National Institute for Statistics). The provided data include dead born
fetuses with unknown birth weight.

Croatia

Source of data: Croatian Institute for Public Health, Database of births in health care
institutions.
Coverage: Included are only births in health care institutions, irrespective of the place of the
residence of the mother.

Cyprus

The data referring to stillbirths 1000+ grams for the years 2011-2013 are derived from the death
certificates collected by Health Monitoring Unit. For the year 2014 the data for stillbirths 1000+
grams are derived from the Birth Registry of Health Monitoring Unit and are still preliminary.
Included are the dead born fetuses referring to non-residents.

Czechia

Source: Czech Statistical Office (CZSO)

Denmark

Method: In cases where birthweight is unknown a criteria of gestational age of 28 weeks (if known)
have been used.
Source: The Medical Birth Registry, The Danish Health Data Authority.

Estonia

Source: Statistical Office of Estonia.
Dead born fetuses with birth weight unknown are excluded.

Finland

Source: Medical Birth Register (MBR), THL (National Institute for Health and Welfare).
Note: From 1987 the MBR data was updated to remove the cases which are born abroad and to include
foreigners not permanently living in Finland (excluded in the data from Vital Statistics Finland).

France

Data are not available.

Georgia

Source: National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia (NCDC) (http://www.ncdc.ge)

Germany

Source: Federal Statistical Office, Statistics on the natural movement of the population, Fachserie
1, Reihe 1.1.
http://www.destatis.de or http://www.gbe-bund.de
Break in time series: From reporting year 2014 onwards data on birth weight are no longer collected.

Hungary

Source: Yearbooks of Demographic and Health Statistics of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office
(KSH).

Iceland

Source: The Icelandic Birth Registration. Stillborn >=28 weeks, or 1000 g if duration of pregnancy
is unknown. Close to 100% of women undergo an ultrasound scan at 20 weeks and therefore duration of
pregnancy is almost always known.

Ireland

Source: National Perinatal Reporting System. Figures for the 2014 are provisional. Includes births
where the birth weight is not stated.

Israel

Until 2002, numbers include cases with 28 weeks or more of gestation age or when the gestation age
is unknown, weight is 1000g or more. Since 2003, includes cases with a weight of 1000g or more, or
when the birth weight is unknown, cases with 28 weeks or more of gestation age. Since 1999, the data
have improved due to an increased level of reporting.
Source: Statistical Abstract of Israel, Central Bureau of Statistics.

Italy

Source until 1998: ISTAT. Source from 2003: Ministry of Health, Health Information System, Delivery
Certificates Database. Coverage in 2003: 84% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of
Hospital Discharges. In 2004, 86% of deliveries recorded in National Database of Hospital
Discharges. Coverage in 2005: 92% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of Hospital
Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2006: 92.9% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of
Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2007: 93.0% of deliveries, recorded in National
Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2008: 96.6% of deliveries, recorded in
National Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2009: 98.2% of deliveries,
recorded in National Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2010: 98,8% of
deliveries, recorded in National Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2011:
98.8% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage
in 2012: 99.9% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year.
Coverage in 2013: 100.3% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of Hospital Discharges in the
same year. The number of live births registered in the Delivery Certificates Database in 2013 is:
510.659.

Kazakhstan

Break in time series: 2008, when live birth and stillbirth criteria, recommended by the World Health
Organization, were introduced in the country.

Latvia

Note: Temporal increase in year 2002 confirmed, the reason is not known.

Lithuania

Source: Health Information Centre of Institute of Hygiene (HI HIC), data of annual report of
maternal hospitals. Since 2010: HI HIC Causes of death register data.

Luxembourg

Source: Direction de la Sante Service des Statistiques.
Definition: dead born foetuses of less than 1000 g are excluded, but those of unknown weight at
birth are included.

Malta

Source: Department of Health Information and Research (National Mortality Register).

Montenegro

Data are not available.

Netherlands

Source: The Netherlands Perinatal Registry: Includes stillbirths born after a gestational age of 22
weeks or more. Data are derived from the yearbook ?Perinatal Care in the Netherlands? of PRN. Of the
primary and secondary obstetric care only a small percentage of the deaths is missing in the numbers
(around 3-5%).

Norway

Source of data: The Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Note: The Medical Birth Registry of Norway has discovered an error in the internal variable DODKAT,
which concerns the child?s status of living or dead at and after birth. The error influences the
classification of perinatal deaths, in that around 12% of the stillborn born after week 22 were
erroneously classified as early neonatal deaths. This mainly influences the data for the years 2006
? 2011. The Medical Birth Registry has therefore recalculated these indicators for all relevant
years to ensure comparable data. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health reported the corrected
data in 2014/15.

Poland

Source of data: Central Statistical Office.

Portugal

Source of data: National Statistical Institute Coverage: National

Republic of Moldova

This indicator is calculated as follows: (Number of stillbirths * 1000) / Births living and the
dead.
Source of data: Medical certificate of perinatal death.

Serbia

Source of data: National Statistical Office.

Slovakia

Source: Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

Slovenia

Source of data: National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia (NIJZ)

Spain

No information for years prior to 1996.
Source: National Statistics Institute, extracted from ?Demographic Phenomena. Late fetal death
statistcs?
http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=%2Ft20%2Fe304&file=inebase&L=&L=1

Sweden

Source of data: The National Board of Health and Welfare (NBHW)
The Medical Birth and Malformation Register (NBHW).
www.socialstyrelsen.se/register/halsodataregister/medicinskafodelseregistret/inenglish
Note: Data for 2012 were not delivered from the council of V„rmland, therefore data for the county
of V„rmland 2011 have been used to calculate the national gross number for 2012.

Switzerland

Source of data: FSO Federal Statistical Office, BEVNAT
http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/fr/index/infothek/erhebungen__quellen/blank/blank/bevnat/01.html
Coverage:

Türkiye

Source of data: Public Health Institution of Turkey, Ministry of Health of Turkey.

Turkmenistan

Source of data: Administrative medical statistics, form 19 ?Report on medical care for pregnant
women, women in labour and puerperant?, and form 14 ?Report on hospital activity?, form 096/y
?Journal of labour?, ?Medical certificate of perinatal death? 0106-2/y.

Ukraine

Source: Centre of Health Statistics, Ministry of Health.
Coverage: Dead-born foetuses with weight 1000+ g. registered in institutions under Ministry of
Health are only included.

United Kingdom

Data are not available.

Uzbekistan

Different from WHO definition. Fetal death is registered if duration of pregnancy is 28 weeks or
more, length of body is 35 cm or more, body weight is 1000 g or more and after expulsion or
extraction from its mother, featus doesn?t make a single breath.

General notes

Understanding the Number of Deadborn Fetuses with a Birth Weight of 1000 g or More

This specific health indicator tracks the number of stillbirths where the fetus weighs at least 1000 grams at birth. Monitoring such data is crucial as it provides insights into maternal and fetal health within a population. It helps in identifying trends and potential issues in prenatal care and maternal health services. By analyzing this data, health professionals and policymakers can better understand the underlying causes of stillbirths and implement targeted interventions to reduce these occurrences and improve overall pregnancy outcomes.

Methodology for Calculating Stillbirths Over 1000g

The calculation of the number of deadborn fetuses weighing 1000 grams or more involves a detailed collection and analysis of birth records from medical facilities. This data is typically gathered from hospital records, which include details about each birth, such as birth weight and fetal viability. Health authorities may also use this data to assess the effectiveness of prenatal care programs and to ensure that health services are adequately supporting pregnant women, thereby potentially preventing conditions leading to higher rates of stillbirths.

Significance of Tracking Stillbirths in Public Health

The tracking of stillbirths, particularly those with a birth weight of 1000 grams or more, is vital for assessing and improving maternal and child health services. This data not only reflects the quality of antenatal care but also influences the development of health policies aimed at reducing preventable stillbirths. Furthermore, understanding the frequency and distribution of such events helps in the allocation of resources, planning of health interventions, and provides a basis for international health comparisons and studies aimed at reducing global disparities in fetal and maternal health outcomes.

Strengths and Limitations of the Stillbirth Indicator

While the data on stillbirths of fetuses weighing 1000 grams or more is invaluable, it comes with its own set of strengths and limitations that affect its utility and interpretation.

Strengths

This indicator is crucial for providing a clear and standardized measure of fetal health at a relatively advanced stage of pregnancy. It allows for consistent tracking over time and across different regions, facilitating comparative and longitudinal studies that can inform better health policies and practices. Additionally, this data helps in mobilizing resources towards improving maternal-fetal medicine and in raising awareness about the factors contributing to stillbirths.

Limitations

However, the accuracy of this indicator heavily depends on the quality of data collection methods. In regions where healthcare infrastructure is lacking, or record-keeping is inadequate, the data may not accurately reflect the true situation. Moreover, this indicator does not capture stillbirths of fetuses weighing less than 1000 grams, potentially omitting a subset of cases that could provide further insights into perinatal health. The focus on fetuses above a certain weight threshold may also divert attention from other important factors such as gestational age or the health of the mother, which are equally important in understanding and preventing stillbirths.

Furthermore, this indicator, while useful, does not account for temporal variations within the year that might affect birth outcomes, such as seasonal changes in diet or health service availability. Nor does it reflect very rapid shifts in public health conditions, such as those caused by an epidemic or natural disaster, unless these are specifically included in the data collection period.

These aspects highlight the complexity of interpreting and utilizing the data on stillbirths effectively and underscore the need for continuous improvement in data collection and analysis methods to better support maternal and child health initiatives.