One in 100 babies die before a month old - report

One in a 100 babies died before being a month old in 2006, a report shows.

The Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee reported today on all infant deaths for babies born after 20 weeks gestation up to and including 28 days of life or weighing at last 400 grams if dates were unclear.

Key findings were:

* About one in 100 babies died between 20 weeks gestation and the first 28 days of life between July 1 and December 2006. The rates were comparable to Australia and United Kingdom rates.

* Previous New Zealand Health Information Service data appeared to underestimate mortality rates.

* One third of perinatal deaths were associated with foetal abnormalities. The next most common cause of perinatal death was preterm birth. For one in five stillbirths no cause was found.

* Pacific and Maori women and women under the age of 20 had higher rates of perinatal mortality.

- NZPA