Maternal and fetal risk factors for intrauterine fetal death (IUFD): a cross-sectional study in Khorramabad, Iran (2018-2020).

OBJECTIVES

Infant mortality serves as a key indicator of a society's health, cultural, and economic status. Intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) affects approximately 6-8 per 1000 pregnancies globally, with higher rates in low- and middle-income countries. This study evaluates risk factors for IUFD in a single-center population.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study included all women who delivered a stillborn baby (≥20 weeks gestation, ≥500 g) at Asalian Hospital in Khorramabad during the years 2018 to 2020. Data were collected via a checklist and analyzed using SPSS 18.

RESULTS

Among 162 cases of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), the mean maternal age was 28.43 ± 7.22 years, mean fetal weight 1233.15 ± 620.29 g, and mean gestational age 28.03 ± 4.34 weeks. The cause of death remained undetermined in 69.8% of cases. The most frequently identified cause was respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (7.4%), documented postmortem and attributed to extreme prematurity or pulmonary hypoplasia. The majority of mothers were primiparous (43.8%), experienced no complications (96.9%), and underwent vaginal delivery (82.7%).

CONCLUSION

Congenital anomalies and undetermined causes predominated, emphasizing the need for improved prenatal monitoring, pre-pregnancy counseling, and folic acid supplementation. Future studies should expand sample size and include genetic analysis.