ABSTRACT
The Harare population birthweight for gestation standards were constructed using data from 5 872 singleton livebirths. A further 18 091 births were analysed to determine the relationship; if any; between birthweight for gestation centiles and risk of perinatal mortality. The results showed an overall perinatalmortality of 41.1/1000. The least perinatal mortality occurred at a gestation of39 weeks at a birthweight of 3 500 - 3 750 gms. The lease perinatal mortality occurred when the birthweight was between the 50th and 95th centiles at any given gestation. When the perinatal mortality for each week of gestation and birthweight cell of 250g size was calculated; this showed a pattern which could be represented graphically in zones of perinatal risk. Such zones form the basis for a simple method of determining perinatal mortality risk using both birthweight and gestation