The infant mortality rate was 5.6 per 1,000 live births, slightly higher than the rate in 1997 which was the lowest level ever recorded. The most frequent cause of infant deaths was respiratory conditions of the fetus and newborn. The tables in this section show figures for all gestations of 24 weeks or longer but to assist in the interpretation of trends, most time series tables in this report show figures based on both the old and the new definitions. Further information based on the old definition are available upon request from the Customer Services contact point given in Appendix 3 . Some further information on stillbirths may be found in Tables 3.11 and 3.12 .
Perinatal deaths refer to stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life.
Neonatal deaths refer to deaths in the first four weeks of life. Postneonatal deaths refer to deaths after the first four weeks but before the end of the first year. Infant deaths refer to all deaths in the first year of life. Tables 4.6 and 4.7 have been omitted from this year's Annual Report. For further information on the new classification see Appendix 1 .