[Rate of prematurity and perinatal mortality in the Yaoundé (Cameroon) University Gynecologic Clinic 1982-1992> An analysis of 680 cases].

The authors made an analysis of perinatal mortality on 680 cases of premature births recorded between 1982 and 1992 in the CHU maternity, Yaoundé (Cameroon). During this period, 13,555 births were recorded. The frequency of premature births stood at 5%. The most important etiological factors responsible for these 680 premature cases were depicted as malaria infection and anemia (22.2%), premature rupture of the membranes (13%), multiple pregnancies (11.9%), preeclampsia (10.2%), antepartnal bleeding (5.7%), and urogenital infections (5.0%). The perinatal mortality rate was 16.7% (114 cases). There were 37 cases of antepartual foetal deaths (5.4%), 24 cases of intrapartual foetal deaths (3.2%) and 31 cases of neonatal deaths (4.5%). Perinatal mortality reduced with an increase in the gestation period and the weight of the foetus. The authors noted with astonishment that perinatal mortality was twice as high in cases of non ruptured membranes (19.5%) when compared to premature ruptures of the membrane (10.2%). A plus 30 minutes duration of the expulsion phase was estimated to be a factor that increases perinatal mortality. Breech presentation with a 32.8% perinatal mortality, when compared to cephalic presentation (7.5%), portrays an important risk factor in premature births. Perinatal mortality of premature babies in cases of spontaneous births is two time higher (16.2%) than in cases of caesarean section (7.8%).