Farkhunda Khursheed, Chandra Madhu Das, Fouzia Shaikh, Raheela Bilal Shaikh.
Perinatal mortality: an audit in a tertiary care hospital.
Med Channel Jan ;16(2):260-3.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the rate and to analyse the causes of perinatal mortality (PNM) at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan. METHODOLOGY: This analytical study was conducted over a period of 1 year (Jan 2009-Dec 2009) at Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Unit II Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro / Hyderabad. All cases of perinatal deaths (fetal deaths after 24 weeks of pregnancy and neonatal deaths within 7 days after birth) registered during the study period were included in the study. Study variable of each case was computed on a pre designed proforma. RESULTS: A total of 282 perinatal deaths were recorded out of 2413 deliveries conducted during the study period. PMNR was calculated as 116.86 per 1000 births. It included 222 still births giving a still birth rate of 92 per 1000 and 60 early neonatal deaths giving a early neonatal death rate of 24.86 per 1000 births. Increase frequency of perinatal deaths were found in unbooked cases (80.85%), who were in age group of 25 to 35 years and having parity of 1-5. More perinatal deaths were recorded at gestational age of 31- 36 weeks and with male gender preponderance. Regarding the cause of perinatal deaths, they were in decreasing order of frequency, antipartum hemorrhage (28.72%) followed by hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (20.92%), obstructed labour (13.12%), ruptured uterus (8.15%), preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (7u.80), congenital anomalies (5.31%), birth asphyxia (3.90%), multiple pregnancies (3.19%), chorioamnionitis (2.48%) and diabetes mellitus (2.12%). In 12 cases (4.25%) no cause was identified. CONCLUSION: Severe maternal morbidity has significant impact on PNMR. Majority of PNDs could be prevented if basic medical facilities including basic hygiene, access to trained health workers and access to contraception are made available near women’s home.

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