This statistical release presents the 2016 perinatal deaths that occurred in South Africa. It provides information on perinatal deaths as well as trends in the number of perinatal deaths covering the period 1997 to 2016. Perinatal deaths include information on stillbirths and early neonatal deaths (deaths within 7 days of life). Information on perinatal deaths is obtained from the civil registration system maintained by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

A total of 18 683 perinatal deaths occurred in 2016, showing a 12,6%, a decline that was observed in 2015. Overall, perinatal deaths occurrence increased from 13 020 in 1997, peaked at 25 389 in 2009 and declined to 18 683 in 2016. Perinatal deaths decreased by 26,4% between 2009 and 2016. Stillbirths contributed a higher proportion (64%) of 2016 perinatal deaths and the remaining third was attributable to early neonatal deaths (36%). With the exception of 1997 and 1998, stillbirths have consistently been higher than early neonatal deaths for all perinatal deaths in the 1997 to 2016 period.

Differentials in perinatal deaths by sex show that there were more male than female stillbirths and early neonatal deaths. The national average for stillbirths was 124 male stillbirths per 100 female stillbirths, 129 male early neonatal deaths per 100 female early neonatal deaths and 126 male perinatal deaths per 100 female perinatal deaths. Sex ratios indicated a higher male stillbirths, early neonatal and perinatal deaths for all the provinces. The province with the highest sex ratio for stillbirths was Northern Cape (144). The highest perinatal sex ratio was observed in the Northern Cape (139) while Western Cape and Limpopo had the highest sex ratio for both early neonatal deaths (both at 144).

The perinatal death rate in 2016 was estimated at 21,0 perinatal deaths per 1 000 total births. Early neonatal death rate was estimated at 7,7 early neonatal deaths per 1 000 total births, while stillbirth rate was estimated at 13,5 stillbirths per 1 000 total births. Population group differentials show that black Africans had the highest proportion of deaths for all three death categories (stillbirths, early neonatal and perinatal deaths).

Results from the causes of death show that more than 97% of stillbirths, early neonatal deaths and perinatal deaths resulted from the main group certain conditions originating in the perinatal period. The distribution of the ten leading underlying natural causes of stillbirths show that fetus and newborn affected by maternal factors and by complications of pregnancy, labour and delivery was the leading cause of stillbirths in the three year period from 2014 to 2016. The leading underlying natural cause of death for early neonatal deaths was respiratory and cardiovascular disorders specific to the perinatal period between 2014 and 2016. The findings from this statistical release are essential for planning, monitoring and evaluation of interventions and programs aimed at improving the health and survival of infants since perinatal mortality is a useful indicator of the quality of antenatal and perinatal care.