Perinatal Mortality Survey

This survey covered all births in one week, 3-9 Mar 1958 and all neonatal deaths under under one month for the three months, Mar to May 1958.

Two reports were published:
Perinatal Mortality (1963) M.11/7/1
Perinatal Problems (1969) M.11/8/1

There was also a pathology exhibit. This was donated to the RCOG and is now at Queen Charlotte's Hospital. The pathology questionnaires (7,000) are at the International Centre for Child Studies, Bristol.

The completed questionnaires for the births (17,000) are held at the Department of Child Health, University of Bristol, and computer tabulations (on magnetic tape) are held by the ESRC Databank, Essex University.

The records in this section are concerned with the administration of the survey, and publications of the findings. The survey was run by a steering committee, which was a sub-committee of the Technical Advisory Committee. This steering committee had several sub-committees to consider different aspects of the survey. The original terms of reference of the steering committee were:
"to explore the possibilities of carrying out a survey to provide information upon aspects relating to the safety and health of mother and infant including the possible effects of place of confinement and with special reference to perinatal mortality".