Methodological Challenges in International Comparisons of Perinatal Mortality

Purpose of ReviewSeveral prestigious agencies routinely rank countries based on crude perinatal and infant mortality rates, while more recently, international neonatal networks have begun comparing neonatal mortality and morbidity rates among very preterm and very low-birth-weight infants. We discuss the methodologic challenges that compromise such comparisons and potential remedies.Recent FindingsCrude perinatal mortality rates are biased by …