Comparative Fetal Mortality in Maternal Virus Diseases

Abstract

INFORMATION on the incidence of fetal deaths is generally inadequate because of incomplete reporting in early pregnancy, when fetal deaths occur most commonly.¹ The under-reporting is attributable in part to spontaneous abortions before prenatal care is sought, and is therefore a source of error if the population under study consists of women registered in an antenatal-care service. The error varies with the number of women seeking obstetric care in different months of gestation. This, in turn, depends on such factors as ethnic group, gravidity and availability of obstetric services. Consequently, there is little agreement on the frequency of fetal deaths . . .