All issues > Volume 32(3); 1989

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1989;32(3):321-330. Published online March 31, 1989.

Clinical Survey of Perinatal Mortality in Multiple Pregnancy.

Hoon Kook¹, Dong Hun Cho¹, Hwa Il Kwag¹, Kwang Ok Lee¹, Young Youn Choi¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Chonnam University Hospital, Kwangju, Korea

Received: July 30, 1988;  Accepted: September 26, 1988.

Abstract

A clinical survey was performed on 151 cases of multiple pregnancies (149 cases of twins and 2 cases of triplets) and their 304 multiplets who were born at the Chonnam University Hospital during 7 years from January 1, 1980 to December 31, 1986. The results are as follows: 1) The incidence of twins was 1 out of 50 births, and that of triplets 1 out of 3,726. 2) The sex distribution (both males: both females: different sexes) was 2.3:1.9:1.0, and males slightly outnumbered females. 3) Among 304 multiplets, total deaths were 53 which included 37 stillbirths and 16 neonatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate was 174.3. 4) The perinatal mortality rate was significantly higher in shorter gestational age, smaller birth weight, lower Apgar score group and in babies of multiparous mother. 5) The order. of delivery, maternal age, mode of delivery, time intervals between deliveries and difference in birth weights did not affect the perinatal mortality rate significantly. 6) Causative factors for perinatal mortality in multiplets were prematurity itself, delivery complication, and respiratory distress syndrome, which comprised over two thirds of all deaths.

Keywords :Multiple pregnancy, Perinatal mortality