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Fetal Death Rate
A fetal death (stillbirth) is defined as a death that occurs prior to
the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of
conception, with 20 weeks or more gestation and/or weighing 350 grams
or more; the death is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or
extraction the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life,
such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite
movement of voluntary muscles.
The Fetal Death Rate is calculated by dividing the number of fetal deaths
in a given year by the total number of live births plus fetal deaths. In
1998, there were 232 reported fetal deaths in Arkansas and 36,831 live births.
Thus, the Fetal Death Rate = (232 /(36,450 + 232)) X 1,000 = 6.3 fetal deaths
per 1,000 live births plus fetal deaths. This rate is significantly lower
than 1997's rate of 7.7. The national fetal death rate has continually
declined from 8.0 in 1994 to 7.6 in 1995 to 7.2 in 1997. It should be noted
that the federal definition of a fetal death makes no reference to the
weight of the fetus. However, these subtle differences have minimal impact
on the rates. It should also be noted that 1997 was the latest year for
which national data is available on fetal death rates.
An examination of the map reveals that those counties with high fetal
death rates vary throughout the state. It should be noted that the
individual counties with the highest and lowest fetal death rates are
counties with very small numbers of events. It is inappropriate to attach
any significance to rates calculated on such small numbers.
The Health Management Areas with the highest five-year average fetal death
rates are Areas 7, 6, and 8 with rates of 10.0, 8.8 and 8.1, respectively.
Areas 10 and 1 had the lowest average rate at 6.1 each.
As with infant mortality, the fetal death rates differ by race. The
five-year average fetal death rate for Whites was 6.1, while for Blacks
it was 11.6.
The Arkansas' fetal death rate has been on the decline for the last two years,
dropping from 8.0 in 1996 to 7.7 in 1997, and then dropping again, this time
significantly, to 6.3 in 1998.
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