Fetal and perinatal mortality, United States, 2004.

OBJECTIVES This report presents 2004 fetal and perinatal mortality data by a variety of characteristics, including maternal age, marital status, race, Hispanic origin and state of residence; and by infant birthweight, gestational age, plurality and sex. Trends in fetal and perinatal mortality are also examined. METHODS Descriptive tabulations of data are presented and interpreted. RESULTS In 2004, there were 25,655 reported fetal deaths of 20 weeks of gestation or more in the United States. The U.S. fetal mortality rate was 6.20 fetal deaths of 20 weeks of gestation or more per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths, not significantly different from the rate of 6.23 in 2003. The fetal mortality rate for non-Hispanic black women (11.25) was 2.3 times the rate for non-Hispanic white women (4.98), whereas the rate for Hispanic women (5.43) was 9 percent higher than the rate for non-Hispanic white women. Fetal and perinatal mortality rates have declined slowly but steadily from 1990 to 2004. Fetal mortality rates for 28 weeks of gestation or more have declined substantially whereas those for 20-27 weeks of gestation have not declined. Fetal mortality rates are elevated for a number of groups, including teenagers, women aged 35 years and over, unmarried women, and multiple deliveries. In 2004, one-half of fetal deaths of 20 weeks of gestation or more occurred between 20 and 27 weeks of gestation.