Perinatal Mortality in the United States, 2020-2021
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    Perinatal mortality (late fetal deaths at 28 completed weeks of gestation or more and early neonatal deaths younger than age 7 days) can be an indicator of the quality of health care before, during, and after delivery, and of the health status of the nation (1,2). The U.S. perinatal mortality rate declined 30% from 1990 through 2011, was stable from 2011 through 2016, and declined 4% from 2017 through 2019 (1,3–5). This report describes changes in perinatal mortality, as well as its components, late fetal and early neonatal mortality, from 2020 to 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also shown are perinatal mortality rates by mother’s age, the three largest race and Hispanic-origin groups, and state for 2021 compared with 2020.

    Key findings: Data from the National Vital Statistics System

    ● The U.S. perinatal mortality rate was 5.54 perinatal deaths per 1,000 live births and late fetal deaths in 2021, a nonsignificant decline from the rate of 5.64 in 2020.

    ● The late fetal mortality rate, one of the components of perinatal mortality, was essentially unchanged, while the early neonatal mortality rate, the other component, declined by 4% from 2020 (2.86) to 2021 (2.75).

    ● Declines in perinatal mortality rates by age of mother were not significant.

    ● The perinatal mortality rate declined for Black females from 2020 to 2021; the rate for Hispanic females declined, but not significantly, while the rate for White females was unchanged.

    ● Compared with 2020, perinatal mortality rates declined in two states and were essentially unchanged for 48 states and the District of Columbia in 2021.

    Suggested citation: Valenzuela CP, Gregory ECW, Martin JA. Perinatal mortality in the United States, 2020–2021. NCHS data brief, no 489. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2023. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:134756.

    CS345487

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