Shakira Perveen, Subhana Tayyab.
Perinatal mortality and contributing factors at teaching hospital.
Pak Paed J Jan ;34(2):70-4.

Objective: To determine perinatal mortality rate and contributing risk factors at a teaching hospital. Methods: A retrospective hospital based observational study, conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Unit 1V Lyari General Hospital, from June 2005-Dec 2008. All cases of normal / malformed, still / live born from 20 weeks of pregnancy till first week of life were included in the study. Detailed maternal history & examination was done. Confirmation & examination of dead fetus & new born done by paediatrician. Perinatal mortality & perinatal mortality rate was calculated. Results: During 3½-year study period total number of births was 2631. Out of them 112 (67.06%) were stillbirths & 55 (32.9%) had early neonatal death. Perinatal mortality is 167 and perinatal mortality rate is 63.47/ 1000 births. Majority of mothers were young, of low parity, non booked & from low socioeconomic group. Mean gestational age was 32.5 weeks. Risk factors identified for perinatal mortality were medical disorders 22.1% , mismanaged labor 17.9%, congenital anomalies 14.9%, antepartum hemorrhage 13.7% premature rupture of membranes in11.3 % cases & miscellaneous factors 19.7% ( pretem labor , conjoint twins & cord around neck). Major causes of perinatal mortality were prematurity, perinatal anoxia & congenital malformation. Conclusion: Factors responsible for high perinatal mortality are avoidable & perinatal mortality rate can be reduced by public awareness, health education & delivery of high-risk pregnancies at tertiary care hospital.

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