Report on Perinatal Statistics for 2000

The collection and analysis of national perinatal data is a large undertaking and the compilation of
\nan accurate and comprehensive data base on a timely basis depends on the co·operation and
\nassistance of many people. Principal among these are the staff of the maternity hospitals and units as
\nwell as the many independent midwives involved in practice. I would like to express my sincere
\nappreciation to all who contribute to the accurate recording and timely notification of statistical
\ninformation for all births nationally.
\nInformation on just over 60,865 births was analysed for this report. For each of these records,
\nadditional information apart from that required to register each birth, had to be collected in each
\nhospital and by each independent midwife. This information was compiled and validated by the
\nNational Perinatal Reporting System (NPRS) within .the HIPE & NPRS Unit at The Economic and Social
\nResearch Institute (ESRI) to create a national data base from which this report was produced.