Infant Outcome, Fetal Growth, and Pregnancy Care: Relationships in Indonesian University Obstetrics

The risk of perinatal death is displayed for '56 growth combinations', then contracted into 16 gestational age/birthweight categories (GA/BW) with additional control for antenatal visits (AV;CARE) for 36 000 singleton birth deliveries monitored in Indonesia from 1978-1980. For virtually all GA/BW combinations, the risk of perinatal death (PD) drops impressively with pregnancy care (Care effect on PD). Fetal growth curves are then displayed by infant outcome, the BW difference being the deficit birthweight (DBW) that may serve as a specific life-death growth standard (LDGS)--a reference system in relation to which fetal growth curves, to be controlled for factors other than infant outcome, may be studied. By controlling for maternal education and pregnancy care, the fetal growth curve associated with high pregnancy care and low education (HIAV/LOED) is more favorable than that for low pregnancy care and high education (LOAV/HIED). In Indonesia then, pregnancy care is more important than formal education in the reduction of not only perinatal mortality but also low birthweight (Care effect on fetal growth).