Stillbirths

Since the rate of MM per stillbirth is much greater than that for live births, the true rate of MM cannot be accurately estimated from live births alone. However, available data on stillbirth rates for Slavonia and environs are quite uncertain, reflecting not only differences in obstetrical practice across time and space but also variation in the propensity to baptize (and thus record as live births) neonates in extremis (Table 11.2). Because of this, we make no attempt to inflate the maternal mortality rate per live birth on the basis of either stillbirths or assumed proportions of parturients undelivered. In any case, our focus is not so much on estimation of the rate as on the correlates.

5.4