Temporal behavior of proportional mortality of fetal deaths according to underlying cause, 2011–2020

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the temporal behavior of proportional mortality of early, intermediate, and late fetal deaths between 2011 and 2020, according to underlying cause. METHODS: Population-based study conducted with secondary data on fetal deaths recorded in the Mortality Information System for the period between 2011 and 2020. RESULTS: The highest annual averages of proportional mortality according to the underlying cause of early, intermediate, or late fetal deaths were, respectively: fetus and newborn affected by maternal factors and complications of pregnancy, labor, and delivery (41.3%, 44.4%, and 44.0%); intrauterine hypoxia and asphyxia at birth (22.3%, 21.6%, and 22.8%); and other conditions originating in the perinatal period (28.0%, 23.4%, and 24.4%). Hypoxia and asphyxia showed a downward trend for all types of death. The group of fetuses and newborns affected by maternal factors and complications of pregnancy, labor, and delivery showed an increasing trend. CONCLUSION: The main underlying causes of death are characterized as preventable through adequate prenatal, delivery, and newborn care, which highlights the need to improve perinatal care in order to reduce and/or prevent their occurrence.