Potentially avoidable perinatal deaths in Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania as classified by the Nordic-Baltic classification

Objectives To analyse which subgroups of perinatal deaths contribute most to the perinatal mortality rate in Lithuania compared with Denmark/Sweden. Design Comparison of all perinatal deaths in Denmark/Sweden 1991 and Lithuania 1993-1994 by the common Nordic-Baltic perinatal death classification, based on information from the medical records. Results The doubled perinatal mortality in Lithuania compared with Denmark/Sweden is mainly explained by a threefold increase of intrapartum and two- to fivefold increase in neonatal deaths of nonmalformed infants. The higher rate of malformed infants is partly explained by a four times higher mortality from neural tube defects. Conclusions The use of a common perinatal death classification has identified categories mainly responsible for the higher rate of perinatal mortality, but further investigation of potentially avoidable factors requires further study.