Interpretation
The true magnitude of perinatal deaths remains under-reported and
under-investigated. Similar to many of its Pacific neighbours, The
Solomon Islands currently does not formally register stillbirths. There
is a need to optimise prospective documentation of all birth outcomes
and to adopt classification of all perinatal deaths, in a similar to
maternal deaths through the maternal death surveillance system. The WHO
has recommended verbal autopsy as a tool to assist in determining cause
of perinatal death in LMICs by gathering collateral data from mothers
and clinicians. 19, 22 This may be utilised to reduce
the number of “unclassified” deaths. Whilst many classification
systems have been used in LMICs 23, we successfully
utilised the ICD-PM classification system. There is a critical need for
further research and formal classification into why mothers and babies
are suffering in the Solomon Islands and more broadly, in the
Asia-Pacific region. COVID-19 has significantly disrupted health systems
and diverted funding from maternal and child health programs. This is
likely to result in further adverse perinatal outcomes and maternal and
infant death. 24