Adequacy of Prenatal Care Index (Kotelchuck Index):
Classifies prenatal care received into one of four categories: inadequate, intermediate, adequate and adequate plus by combining information about the timing of prenatal care, the number of visits and the infant's gestational age.

Birth Defect:
Ana abnormality of structure, function or body metabolism present at birth that often results in a physical and/or mental disability or is fatal.

Birth Rate:
Number of live births in a given population (usually expressed per 1,000 women in a specified group)

Birth Weight:
5 ½ lbs (2500 grams) or greater = normal
< 2500 grams (5 ½ lbs.) = low birth weight (LBW)
<1500 grams (3 ½ lbs.) = very low birth weight (VLBW)

Fetal Mortality:
Death of the fetus/infant before birth but after at least 24 weeks of gestation. (earlier than 24 weeks gestation is considered a miscarriage)

Gestational Age:
Weeks of pregnancy (40 = normal)
Preterm or Premature means a live birth earlier than 37 weeks
Very Preterm= <32 weeks

Incidence:
The number of new cases of disease in a specified population over a given period of time. ( At least three year averages are optimal for detecting a trend.)

Infant Mortality:
Determines the time and age of infant at death:
Perinatal I=between 28 weeks gestation and 6 days after birth
Perinatal II= between 20 weeks gestation and 27 days after birth
Perinatal III=between 20 weeks gestation and 6 days after birth

Preconception Care:
An organized and comprehensive program of health care that identifies and reduces a woman's risk (may include perspective father's also) before conception through risk assessment, health promotion, and interventions. (example= genetic counseling, nutrition, family planning)

Prenatal Care:
Time of entry into medical care after determination of pregnancy.
Early prenatal care= entry in first trimester (1-3 months)
Late prenatal care= entry in third trimester (7-9 months)

Prevalence:
The number of cases of a condition in a specified population at a designated time. (Usually gauged per 1000 cases)

Respiratory Distress Syndrome:
An acute disorder of the lungs usually in premature newborn infants, caused by immaturity of lung development. Can lead to death or a chronic abnormality

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS):
An unexplained, unexpected death of an infant between birth and one year of age.