[Perinatal data between 1992 and 1996].

A change of Federal Law in Germany in 1994 required the registration of premature infants with birthweights between 500 and 1000 g the previous limit being 1000 g. The data of the National Bureau of Statistics (Statistisches Bundesamt) indicate that as a consequence overall perinatal mortality increased slightly with a clear increase in premature infants with a birthweight of less than 2500 g. In all other birthweight-specific subgroups, a further decrease in perinatal mortality was observed. Overall perinatal mortality in 1996 was 0.68%.