Skip to main content

2020 to 2021 Saw Nonsignificant Decline in Perinatal Mortality Rate

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 7, 2023.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Dec. 7, 2023 -- A nonsignificant decline was seen in the U.S. perinatal mortality rate from 2020 to 2021, according to a December data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.

Claudia P. Valenzuela, M.P.H., from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, and colleagues used data from the National Vital Statistics System to describe changes in perinatal mortality from 2020 to 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The researchers found that in 2021, the U.S. perinatal mortality rate was 5.54 perinatal deaths per 1,000 live births and late fetal deaths, representing a nonsignificant decline from 5.64 in 2020. The late fetal mortality rate was essentially unchanged, while the early neonatal mortality rate decreased 4 percent from 2.86 to 2.75 from 2020 to 2021. No significant declines were seen in perinatal mortality rates by age of mother. From 2020 to 2021, there was a decline observed in the perinatal mortality rate for Black women, a nonsignificant decline for Hispanic women, and no change for White women. Compared with 2020, in 2021, there were declines noted in perinatal mortality in two states and no change in 48 states and the District of Columbia.

"After declining 4 percent from 2017 through 2019, the perinatal mortality rate declined, but not significantly, from 2020 (5.64) to 2021 (5.54)," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted December 2023

Read this next

CDC: Decrease in Maternal Mortality Rates Seen in 2022

THURSDAY, May 2, 2024 -- In 2022, there was a decrease in maternal mortality rates, according to a report published in the May Health E-Stats, a publication of the U.S. Centers...

Nutritional Interventions for Moderate- to Late-Preterm Infants Show No Effect

MONDAY, April 29, 2024 -- Routine nutrition interventions to support moderate- to late-preterm infants until full nutrition with mother’s breast milk does not impact...

Antenatal Corticosteroids Do Not Negatively Impact Offspring

FRIDAY, April 26, 2024 -- Administration of antenatal corticosteroids to persons at risk for late preterm delivery is not associated with adverse childhood neurodevelopmental...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.