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Fetal and Infant Deaths 2003 & 2004

cover of Fetal and Infant Deaths publication.

Annual statistical publication that collates and analyses information on the causes of fetal and infant deaths registered in New Zealand.

Key facts from the publication:

    • The total number of infant deaths registered in 2003 was 304 and in 2004 was 347.
    • Māori infant deaths (118 deaths) accounted for 38.8 percent of all infant deaths in 2003, in 2004, they accounted for 35.4 percent (123 deaths).
    • Overall, the Māori infant death rate has been decreasing since 1996; the most significant decrease has been for the Māori post-neonatal death rate.
    • Compared with the 'Other' (non-Māori, non- Pacific peoples) ethnic group, the Māori post-neonatal death rate was 3.1 times higher in 2003 and 3.5 times higher in 2004
    • Compared with the 'Other' ethnic group, the Pacific peoples post-neonatal death rate was 1.4 times higher in 2003 and 2.9 times higher in 2004.
    • Post-neonatal death rates have decreased slightly over the past decade, while neonatal death rates have remained steady.
    • In 2003, 32 percent of early neonatal deaths were where the baby died within 24 hours of life. In 2004, these accounted for 33 percent of early neonatal deaths.
    • Babies born in multiple births accounted for 14.9 percent of early neonatal deaths in 2003 and 15.5 percent in 2004.
    • The most deprived areas in New Zealand (NZDep2001 Quintile 5) have increasing rates of fetal deaths compared with other quintiles.
    • The most deprived areas in New Zealand (NZDep2001 Quintile 5) have rates of infant deaths almost two-and-a-half times the least deprived areas (NZDep2001 Quintile 1).
    • Babies with a birthweight of less than 1000g and a gestation of less than 32 completed weeks made up 50.0 percent of all neonatal deaths and 5.0 percent of post-neonatal deaths in 2003. In 2004, these babies made up 53.0 percent of neonatal deaths and 6.7 percent of post-neonatal deaths.
    • 51 infant deaths were attributed to SIDS in 2003. In 2004, there were 45 infant deaths attributed to SIDS.
    • The SIDS death rate of 0.8 per 1000 live births in 2004 was 61.9 percent lower than in 1994. This rate is the lowest recorded since SIDS became a separate category in the International Classification of Diseases in 1979 (this rate – 0.8 per 1000 live births – was also recorded in 2002).
    • In 2003, SIDS was the underlying cause of death for 42.5 percent of post-neonatal deaths and 16.8 percent of all infant deaths.
    • In 2004, SIDS was the underlying cause of death for 30.2 percent of post-neonatal deaths and 13.0 percent of all infant deaths.

You can download the Excel statistical tables included in this publication by clicking the Stats/Fetal/Excel link here .

The full publication can be downloaded as a (PDF, 819 KB).

Errata 2003 & 2004 (PDF, 59 KB).

Published 2007
144 pages, A4
A limited number of hardcopy publications are available free of charge
ISBN 978-0-478-30794-8 (Print), ISBN 978-0-478-30795-5 (Online)

Alternatively, this publication is available on CD, which can be obtained from NZHIS: e-mail nzhis-pub@nzhis.govt.nz or contact the Publications Officer, NZHIS, PO Box 5013, Wellington, phone (04) 496 2000, fax (04) 496 2340.

The 2002 (PDF, 327 KB), 2001 (PDF, 313 KB), 2000 (PDF, 701 KB), 1999 (PDF, 712 KB), 1998 (PDF, 672 KB), 1997 (PDF, 338 KB) and 1996 (PDF, 457 KB) issues of this publication are also available.


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