[Increased mortality in home delivery].

103 current publications on perinatal mortality of home delivery (HD) have been investigated concerning their possible usage for statistics. Only few could meet the necessary statistical requirements. All publications which were in favour of home delivery showed statistical faults; therefore, they cannot give clear evidence of advantages and disadvantages of HD. The group of the described HD (approximately 85,000 home deliveries) were compared with a statistically comparable group of hospital deliveries. The risk for children to die during or after birth is between 3 and 23 times higher for home-born children than for those born in hospitals. The rate of unexpected incidents during delivery, where transport to hospital was required, is about 11%; this corresponds to the rate of unexpected incidents in hospitals. In home delivery, it is not possible to provide obstetrical operative interventions. The frequency of operatively terminated deliveries is about 40% in the group of secondarily transferred patients. The Netherlands have about 30% home deliveries; their perinatal mortality rate (0.96%) is the highest of all comparable high-developed countries (Germany: 0.6%). Considering the necessary safety of the child, home delivery is irresponsible.