Objectives and outcome of perinatal care.

Great advances in perinatal care during the past two decades have been accompanied by reduced mortality rates in progressively lower birthweight groups. Continuing effort may be warranted by these improved results or by the need to preserve human life, yet rising costs in terms of disability, stress on parents and attendants, and financial resources raise questions about the value and justification of such effort. If rational policies are to be formulated for the future, accurate data based on planned population studies are essential. Perinatal care is only one of the determinants of outcome--environmental influences are also important and must be taken into account. Resources should be directed to improving the sociocultural environment as well as the standards of perinatal care.