Risk factors for perinatal mortality: a case control study from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Abstract

Background: The greatest risks to life are in its very beginning. Although a good start in life begins well before birth, it is just before, during, and in the very first hours and days after birth that life is most at risk. This prospective case control study was designed on maternal risk factors for perinatal mortality.Methods: This was a case control study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Paediatrics, Medical College Trivandrum for one year period in 2004-2005. The cases were all the fresh and macerated still births and early neonatal death cases during the study period. The controls were chosen as the next delivery entry in the OR register.Results: During this period, the total number of deliveries was 14,796 and there were 431 perinatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate was 29.12. This was much higher compared to Kerala’s perinatal mortality rate of 10, the reason being that the study is conducted in a tertiary referral hospital with one of the best new born care nurseries and a large number of referrals. The most significant risk factors for perinatal mortality were low socio-economic status, referrals, late registration, prematurity, low birth weight, intra-uterine growth restriction, maternal diseases like gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes and intrapartum complications like abruption.Conclusions: Perinatal mortality rate serves as the most sensitive index of maternal and neonatal care. Good antenatal care and prevention of preterm birth may play a key role in further reduction of PMR.

Determinants Of Perinatal Mortality In Bahir Dar Town Governmental Health Institutions, Northwest, Ethiopia, 2019: Prospective Unmatched Case Control Study

“…Prematurity was one of the strongest determinants of perinatal mortality in this study. The odds of experiencing perinatal mortality were 3.29 fold more likely among premature births compared to those mature births (AOR 3.29, 95%CI;1.86-5.81).This finding was in line with the studies conducted in Gojjam(6),Tigray(16), Oromia (17),Tanzania (18),Zimbabwe(13),Ghana (19) and Kerala, India (20).The study also conducted in Haryana, India (21) showed that odds of perinatal mortality in premature deliveries were about 3.5 times more likely when compared to term deliveries. The other case control study conducted in Brazil(22) also indicated that prematurity was associated with perinatal mortality.…”

An Analysis of Causes and Avoidable Factors of Perinatal Deaths at Tertiary Care Hospital

“…16 Half of the perinatal deaths were judged to be potentially avoidable in a study from Africa with poor resources.The delay in seeking health care along with poor recognition of danger signs was identified in the majority of perinatal deaths. 17 Our study also revealed common avoidable factors as maternal delay to seek health care, inadequate antenatal checkups, and inadequate antenatal counseling of danger signs by a service providerover the three years. Further improvements in perinatal mortality may be achieved by greater emphasis on the importance of antenatal care and educating women to recognize signs and symptoms that require professional assessment.…”

Determinants of perinatal mortality at tertiary hospitals in East Wollega, Western Ethiopia: a case–control study

“…This finding is comparable with those of studies performed in Addis Ababa, Uganda, and India. 9 , 18 , 19 This might be because low-birth-weight newborns are more easily exposed to neonatal complications such as hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and sepsis. Another possible explanation is that low-birth-weight newborns are usually preterm deliveries subjected to the above-mentioned complications.…”