Main Article Content
Stillbirths at a tertiary medical centre in Enugu, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: The occurrence of stillbirths either before or during labour is a devastating experience that contributes significantly to perinatal mortality.
Aim: To review stillbirths among two thousand, three hundred and twenty six consecutive deliveries in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu.
Methods: This was a three year retrospective review of 2,326 consecutive deliveries in UNTH, Enugu. Chi-square test was used to test for significance where appropriate. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Out of the 2,326 births, 169 were stillbirths giving a stillbirth rate of 72.7 per 1000 total births. Most of the mothers 118(69.8%) were not booked for antenatal care at the UNTH, Enugu. The stillbirths rate among the unbooked mothers was 265 per 1000 total births while among the booked mothers the stillbirth rate was 27.1 per 1000 total births. Majority of the stillbirths were males 86(50.8%), while females constituted 83(49.2%). There was a preponderance of fresh stillbirths 89 (52.7%). The commonest obstetric conditions associated with stillbirths were hypertension 35 (20.7%), abruption placenta 27 (16%), ruptured uterus 18(10.7%) and obstructed labour 16(9.5%). No specific condition could be related to the stillbirths in 5.9% of cases.
Conclusion: The incidence of stillbirth is very high in our institution and this is mainly due to unbooked patients.
Aim: To review stillbirths among two thousand, three hundred and twenty six consecutive deliveries in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu.
Methods: This was a three year retrospective review of 2,326 consecutive deliveries in UNTH, Enugu. Chi-square test was used to test for significance where appropriate. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Out of the 2,326 births, 169 were stillbirths giving a stillbirth rate of 72.7 per 1000 total births. Most of the mothers 118(69.8%) were not booked for antenatal care at the UNTH, Enugu. The stillbirths rate among the unbooked mothers was 265 per 1000 total births while among the booked mothers the stillbirth rate was 27.1 per 1000 total births. Majority of the stillbirths were males 86(50.8%), while females constituted 83(49.2%). There was a preponderance of fresh stillbirths 89 (52.7%). The commonest obstetric conditions associated with stillbirths were hypertension 35 (20.7%), abruption placenta 27 (16%), ruptured uterus 18(10.7%) and obstructed labour 16(9.5%). No specific condition could be related to the stillbirths in 5.9% of cases.
Conclusion: The incidence of stillbirth is very high in our institution and this is mainly due to unbooked patients.
