fetal mortality rate

fetal mortality rate The number of fetal deaths divided by the sum of all births plus late fetal deaths in a given year. In the US, the fetal mortality rate plummeted from 19.2 per 1,000 births plus late fetal deaths in 1950 to 6.6 per 1,000 in 2000. However, the fetal mortality rate is higher than this in certain ethnic groups and among mothers with health problems during pregnancy, especially if the mother does not receive adequate personal and prenatal health care. The fetal mortality rate is considered a good measure of the quality of health care in a country or a medical facility.