Perinatal deaths and low birthweight in an urban health centre in the Gambia: A prospective cohort study

Abstract

Perinatal deaths (stillbirths after 28 weeks gestation and early neonatal deaths) are rarely reported separately but are the deaths most closely associated with complications during pregnancy, birth and the first days of life. We conducted a prospective cohort study to report perinatal deaths, late neonatal deaths and low birthweight babies as they occur. This cohort of birth outcomes from The Gambia was conducted between 2012 and 2016 and followed 1611 women attending a government-supported health center from the first antenatal visit to 28 days post-delivery. The outcome of the pregnancy was known for 1372 women (85.2%) and included 20 stillbirths and 12 early neonatal deaths. Of 1252 singleton babies with known birthweight 85 weighed less than 2500g (6.8%). Using multivariate analysis it was shown that women who attended the antenatal clinic four times or more were less likely to have a low birthweight baby than women who attended less than four times, OR 0.47 (95% CI:0.273-0.799). We conclude that frequent visits to the antenatal clinic are associated with better outcomes.