Birth trauma among live born term neonates at a referral hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the occurrence, risk factors and outcomes of mechanical birth injuries among live term neonates.

METHODS

A two-year retrospective case control study (September 2000-August 2002) was conducted in a referral hospital in Addis Ababa.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty cases and 358 controls were studied. Subgaleal hemorrhage was the commonest birth injury (61%). Primiparity, vacuum delivery, forceps delivery and birth weight > 3.5 kilograms were found to be strongly associated with birth trauma. Infants with subgaleal hemorrhage were more likely to be complicated than infants with other mechanical birth injuries.

CONCLUSION

Indications and benefits of instrumntal delivery should be revised in our circumstances and prim gravid mothers should be evaluated carefully during ANC follow-up.