Contributing factors
State and territory perinatal mortality committees examine circumstances associated with perinatal deaths to identify possible contributing factors, so that systemic factors affecting the perinatal mortality rate may be identified. Review of a perinatal death may identify more than one contributing factor.
Contributing factors are grouped into three main categories:
- Professional practice (such as failure to recognise clinical deterioration and inadequate clinical monitoring in at-risk situations).
- Lack of, or delay in, access to appropriate care (including access to appropriate expertise, services and treatment).
- Family and social situation (such as substance abuse, family violence and language barriers).
In 2015 and 2016, Victoria, Tasmania and Northern Territory supplied the findings of 339 perinatal deaths (232 stillbirths and 107 neonatal deaths) reviewed for contributing factors to the NPMDC. Contributing factors were identified in relation to 176 of these perinatal deaths, with factors found to have significantly contributed to the outcome in 82 (24.2%) of the 339 perinatal deaths that were reviewed. No contributing factors were identified for 163 (48.1%) of the cases reviewed.
Of the 214 contributory factors identified, most frequent were those relating to the mother, her family and the social situation (56.1%), and related to professional practice (32.2%). On average, more than 1 contributory factor for each case reviewed were identified. For neonatal deaths, a greater proportion of factors were identified related to professional practice (50.0%).
Refer to Data quality and availability of national perinatal mortality data for more information on the collection of contributory factors in the NPMDC.