[Newborn infant mortality over a 30-year period at the Institute of Maternal and Child Welfare].

The postnatal mortality of newborn infants in the Institution for the Care of Mother and Child in Prague decreased from 19.4% in the years 1950-1954 to 11.1% in the period 1975-1979. This decrease was due by 80% to the improvement of results of the postnatal care, by 20% to the reduction of the proportion of very premature infants in the newborn population. During the last 3 years the postnatal mortality was further decreased by about 4%, almost entirely because of the reduction of number of very preterm deliveries. It is concluded that the prevention of severe prematurity is more likely to improve further postnatal results than any postnatal therapy.