A review of perinatal mortality in Colorado, 1971 to 1978, and its relationship to the regionalization of perinatal services.

Vital records data (1971 to 1978) were used to assess the change in neonatal and fetal mortality in Colorado in relationship to the regionalization of perinatal health care within the state. There has been a decrease in neonatal mortality rate from 13.4 to 6.9 during a period of time when there was a minimal decrease in the incidence of low-birth weight infants. The improved neonatal mortality has been associated with a shift in the frequency of birth of very low-birth weight (VLBW) infants to hospitals with level II and III perinatal services and relatively greater survival rates of VLBW infants born in these hospitals as compared to those born in level I hospitals. There was no decrease in fetal mortality in the same period of time. These date suggest that outreach education in perinatal medicine should now emphasize current knowledge and methods for reducing antepartum deaths.