Analysis of stillbirths in a nigerian mission hospital

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, preeclampsia/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 stillborn 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.

Keywords: Stillbirths,foetal wastage, perinatal mortality,
Nigeria.