Perinatal mortality rates and associated socio-demographic factors in two rural districts in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: To determine perinatal mortality rates and associated socio-demographic factors in two rural districts in Zimbabwe.
DESIGN: Cross sectional community based survey.
SETTING: Murewa and Madziwa rural districts.
SUBJECTS: Women aged 15 to 50 years who had been pregnant over the preceding two years before the study.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to eligible women by trained interviewers. Information pertaining to the women's socio-demographic characteristics, reproductive health profile and pregnancy outcome was documented. A post hoc case control analysis was undertaken to determine the risk factors associated with poor perinatal outcome. Women who had a poor perinatal outcome were designated cases and those with a good outcome were designated controls.
RESULTS: The average perinatal mortality rate for both districts was 111 per 1,000 live births (Murewa 182 per 1,000 and Madziwa 48 per 1,000). Factors significantly associated with perinatal mortality were ethnicity, marital status, subjective standard of living and the women's level of formal education. Being Zezuru or being married was associated with poor perinatal outcome. Living well and having high levels of education were also associated with poor perinatal outcome. Perinatal mortality was not significantly associated with maternal age or spouse level of education.
CONCLUSION: This study showed unacceptability high perinatal mortality rates in these rural districts. The true socio-demographic factors associated with perinatal mortality could not be ascertained in this study because of confounding factors. There is need to study quality of antenatal, intrapartum and neonatal care offered by health centres in these districts. In addition there is need to strongly advocate a perinatal programme to address these high mortality rates.