A comparison of perinatal mortality between ethnic Chinese and ethnic whites: why the Chinese rate was lower.

Objectives: To confirm the observation that has been occasionally reported in the literature that perinatal mortality rate is lower in ethnic Chinese than in ethnic whites, and to assess the reasons for this lower perinatal mortality rate.

Methods: Secondary-analysis based on published data.

Results: This exercise demonstrates that the perinatal mortality rate was lower in ethnic Chinese than in ethnic whites. The birth weight distribution in ethnic Chinese was more favourable with reduced births at two extremes of the distribution, and the exposure to risk factors for perinatal death by their mothers was also lower.

Conclusion: Perinatal mortality rate is lower in ethnic Chinese than in ethnic whites, and the lower perinatal mortality rate in ethnic Chinese is probably caused by their favourable birth weight distribution and lower exposure to risk factors of perinatal death by their mothers.