Alphonsus N Onyiriuka1. 1. Department of Child Health University of Benin Teaching Hospital PMB 1111, Benin City, Nigeria. alpndiony@yahoo.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In Nigeria, perinatal mortality remains a major health problem with the balance heavily tilted towards the stillbirth component. Knowledge of the relative importance of the different causes of stillbirth is lacking, even in hospital settings. OBJECTIVE: To determine the stillbirth rate in a Nigerian mission hospital and document its risk factors. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the case records of 131 mothers who had stillbirths were studied and the data obtained analyzed. The relevant hospital delivery registers were also examined. RESULTS: Stillbirth rate was 39.7 per 1000 births with 51.9% and 48.1% being macerated and fresh stillbirths respectively. Antepartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia and prolonged/obstructed labour were the three leading risk factors for stillbirth. Low birthweight babies were also at increased risk of foetal death. Majority (61.8%) of mothers whose babies were still-born belonged to low social class. CONCLUSION: Our stillbirth rate remains unacceptably high and strategies to reduce it must focus on antenatal and intrapatum emergency obstetric care and early referrals in hospital setting.
BACKGROUND: In Nigeria, perinatal mortality remains a major health problem with the balance heavily tilted towards the stillbirth component. Knowledge of the relative importance of the different causes of stillbirth is lacking, even in hospital settings. OBJECTIVE: To determine the stillbirth rate in a Nigerian mission hospital and document its risk factors. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the case records of 131 mothers who had stillbirths were studied and the data obtained analyzed. The relevant hospital delivery registers were also examined. RESULTS: Stillbirth rate was 39.7 per 1000 births with 51.9% and 48.1% being macerated and fresh stillbirths respectively. Antepartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia and prolonged/obstructed labour were the three leading risk factors for stillbirth. Low birthweight babies were also at increased risk of foetal death. Majority (61.8%) of mothers whose babies were still-born belonged to low social class. CONCLUSION: Our stillbirth rate remains unacceptably high and strategies to reduce it must focus on antenatal and intrapatum emergency obstetric care and early referrals in hospital setting.
Authors: Mohammad Yawar Yakoob; Mahrukh Ayesha Ali; Mohammad Usman Ali; Aamer Imdad; Joy E Lawn; Nynke Van Den Broek; Zulfiqar A Bhutta Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2011-04-13 Impact factor: 3.295