[Perinatal mortality in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The trend from 1969 to 1979].

A systematic survey on perinatal mortality has been carried out in Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for eleven years: a 40 to 100 reduction of the rate is noticed, decreasing from 20.6 p. 1 000 in 1969 to 11.9 p. 1 000 in 1978 with a more distinct reduction of the early neonatal component. Important differences are observed in various geographical places both in the rates and in the evolution during the studied period. Differences associated with socioeconomic factors, maternal age and civil status at birth seem to fade out. During the whole period, perinatal mortality rates are lower in foreigners and more particularly in recent immigrants than in Luxembourg people. The chronological aspect of the evolution suggests that these facts are correlated with the adoption of preventive measures in perinatality. This program seems to be efficient not only by globally reducing perinatal mortality but also by decreasing social inequalities in perinatality.