The value of the parental interview in a perinatal mortality survey

Abstract

Interviews with the parents of cases and controls included in the West Glamorgan Perinatal Mortality Survey (1981–83) provided detailed social data which were unobtainable in any other way with such accuracy. Analysis showed statistically significant differences with regard to the unemployment history of the mother's supporter, the nutritional value of the mother's diet, and a composite variable indicating social risk. Attendance at classes for antenatal instruction and mothercraft preparation was significantly different between all nullipara who were in the social risk group and those who were not. Heavy smoking throughout pregnancy was significantly associated with gestational age/birthweight. As well as providing data enabling hypotheses to be tested with regard to social factors and perinatal death, the opinions of parents expressed during interviews as to the care they had received were of value in the confidential inquiry process into health service care provided. The interviews also revealed the need for bereavement counselling.