OBJECTIVE: To compare perinatal deaths in Aborigines and non-Aborigines, and to identify the differences between the two groups in order to plan better prevention and bring about a reduction in perinatal deaths.

DESIGN: A retrospective review of the records of 198 consecutive perinatal deaths (96 Aboriginal and 102 non-Aboriginal) in infants delivered in the maternity unit between 1984 and 1989.

SETTING: Royal Darwin Hospital Maternity Unit.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stillbirth rate, neonatal death rate, perinatal mortality rate; classifying perinatal deaths by cause and birthweight.

MAIN RESULTS: The Aboriginal perinatal mortality rate was 40.9 per 1000, three times that of the non-Aboriginal rate (13.4 per 1000). The stillbirth rate in Aborigines was 18.7 per 1000, 2.5 times that in non-Aborigines (7.2 per 1000). The Aboriginal neonatal mortality rate was 22.5 per 1000, 3.5 times the non-Aboriginal rate (6.2 per 1000). There was no significant difference in the distribution of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal perinatal deaths when classified by cause, with the exception of pre-eclampsia. Aboriginal women appeared to be 2.5 times more likely than non-Aboriginal women (P = 0.002) to have pre-eclampsia causing perinatal death. Prematurity and the unexplained categories were the major causes of perinatal death in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infants.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The suboptimal perinatal outcome in Aborigines highlights the importance of antenatal care for Aboriginal mothers, and indirectly reflects the need for improving their standard of living.