Analysis of stillbirths in a Nigerian mission hospital.

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, pre-eclampsia/ 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 still-born 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.