Chapter 7 Infographic: Perinatal Loss in Canada

  • 15.7% of couples have problems with fertility
  • 15% to 25% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage
  • Ectopic pregnancy occurs in approximately 1-2% of diagnosed pregnancies
  • In 2014:
    • Overall fetal mortality rate was 8.1 per 1,000 total births
    • Fetal mortality rate for multiple births (13.5 per 1,000 total births) was much higher than among singleton births (4.8 per 1,000 total births)
    • Congenital anomalies rate was for 430.5 per 10,000 live births
    • Preterm birth rate (<37 weeks) was 8.1 per 100 live births
    • Very preterm birth rate (<32 weeks) was 1.2 per 100 live births
  • In 2011:
    • Infant mortality rate was 5.0 per 1,000 live births
    • Neonatal mortality rate was 3.6 per 1,000 live births
    • Post-neonatal mortality rate was 1.4 per 1,000 neonatal survivors
  • The leading causes of:
    • Infant deaths:
      • Immaturity (29.6%),
      • Congenital anomalies (21.7%)
      • Other/unknown (20.3%)
    • Neonatal deaths:
      • Immaturity (37.6%)
      • Congenital anomalies (21.4%)
      • Other/unknown (20.5%)
    • Post-neonatal deaths:
      • Congenital anomalies (22.3%)
      • Other/unknown (19.7%)
      • Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (19.6%)
  • Preterm birth rates among:
    • Singleton was 6.3 per 100 live births
    • Twin was 56.7 per 100 live births
    • Triplet or higher order was 93.8 per 100 live births

For references, consult Chapter 7: Loss and Grief in Public Health Agency of Canada. Family-Centred Maternity and Newborn Care: National Guidelines. Ottawa (ON): PHAC; 2020.

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