In 2012, the Île-de-France Regional Health Agency initiated a regional project aimed at Reducing Infant and Perinatal Mortality (RéMI). This initiative was primarily focused on Seine-Saint-Denis, a district characterised by excess infant mortality (death before one year of age) and perinatal mortality (foetal deaths and deaths in the first week of life). The 2 research reports ordered by the Agency under this initiative—including one prepared by Inserm, and officially submitted to its Director General yesterday—bring new clarity to the situation in the department.

The audit has made it possible to identify risk factors associated with the women’s personal situations: 50% of them were overweight or obese. 7% did not have access to Social Security at the start of pregnancy, and 9% were in receipt of State Medical Aid (AME), or were in a scheme for access to urgent care.

The expert reports on the deaths also underline that for three-quarters of them, deviations from good practice were observed in the care of the pregnant women.

33% of the deaths were judged potentially or probably avoidable, by acting on one or more of these deviations from good practice

Given this observation, ARS is launching 3 workshops bringing together professionals and those involved in perinatal care in Seine-Saint-Denis, which will run from November 2015 until March 2016, based on these areas of reflection.