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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Dec 2019In 2015, Nigeria's estimated 317,700 stillbirths accounted for 12.2% of the 2.6 million estimated global stillbirths. This suggests that Nigeria still makes substantial...
BACKGROUND
In 2015, Nigeria's estimated 317,700 stillbirths accounted for 12.2% of the 2.6 million estimated global stillbirths. This suggests that Nigeria still makes substantial contribution to the global burden of stillbirths. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and identify the causes and factors associated with stillbirth in eight referral hospitals in Nigeria.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of all deliveries over a period of 6 months in six general hospitals (4 in the south and 2 in the north), and two teaching hospitals (both in the north) in Nigeria. The study population was women delivering in the hospitals during the study period. A pre-tested study protocol was used to obtain clinical data on pregnancies, live births and stillbirths in the hospitals over a 6 months period. Data were analyzed centrally using univariate, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The main outcome measure was stillbirth rate in the hospitals (individually and overall).
RESULTS
There were 4416 single births and 175 stillbirths, and a mean stillbirth rate of 39.6 per 1000 births (range: 12.7 to 67.3/1000 births) in the hospitals. Antepartum (macerated) constituted 22.3% of the stillbirths; 47.4% were intrapartum (fresh stillbirths); while 30.3% was unclassified. Acute hypoxia accounted for 32.6% of the stillbirths. Other causes were maternal hypertensive disease (6.9%), and intrapartum unexplained (5.7%) among others. After adjusting for confounding variables, significant predictors of stillbirth were referral status, parity, past experience of stillbirth, birth weight, gestational age at delivery and mode of delivery.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that the rate of stillbirth is high in Nigeria's referral hospitals largely because of patients' related factors and the high rates of pregnancy complications. Efforts to address these factors through improved patients' education and emergency obstetric care would reduce the rate of stillbirth in the country.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Trial Registration Number NCTR91540209. Nigeria Clinical Trials Registry. http://www.nctr.nhrec.net/ Registered April 14th 2016.
Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Nigeria; Parity; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Referral and Consultation; Risk Factors; Stillbirth; Young Adult
PubMed: 31888536
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2682-z -
FP Essentials Feb 2023Patients at increased risk of stillbirth should be assessed with antepartum fetal surveillance (AFS) tests at regular intervals. In general, AFS should begin at the...
Patients at increased risk of stillbirth should be assessed with antepartum fetal surveillance (AFS) tests at regular intervals. In general, AFS should begin at the gestational age at which delivery would be considered. Most surveillance tests are performed weekly, but more frequent testing should be considered for patients with high-risk conditions. AFS tests include fetal movement monitoring, nonstress test, contraction stress test, biophysical profile, and modified biophysical profile. Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry is used in the setting of fetal growth restriction. Abnormal test results should prompt additional assessment and consideration of delivery. Normal test results can provide reassurance about fetal well-being, but cannot predict the likelihood of acute incidents, such as placental abruption and umbilical cord infarction.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Prenatal Care; Placenta; Fetus; Fetal Monitoring; Umbilical Arteries
PubMed: 36780556
DOI: No ID Found -
Cureus Dec 2022Background Various pharmacological agents are used to manage intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) for maternal pruritus and to lower serum bile acids in fear of...
Background Various pharmacological agents are used to manage intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) for maternal pruritus and to lower serum bile acids in fear of adverse fetal outcomes. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the most widely used drug, but some patients do not respond to it. Neither UDCA nor any other drug being used for ICP is based on a high level of evidence. Methods A total of 108 pregnant women with ICP who were receiving UDCA with or without rifampicin were included in a prospective observational study from December 2018 to November 2020. Seventy-eight patients receiving UDCA only were labeled as group A, and 30 patients receiving UDCA with rifampicin were labeled as group B. Results The study subjects were comparable in both groups with respect to demographic factors. Pruritus, being the major symptom of ICP, has a mean (standard deviation (SD)) onset at 30.02 (2.93) weeks and 26.70 (4.56) weeks of gestation in groups A and B, respectively. Group B patients had earlier onset of symptoms and earlier mean (SD) gestational age at diagnosis at 28.89 (4.29) weeks compared to 32.47 (2.93) weeks in group A. Therefore, the mean (SD) gestational age to start UDCA was early in group B (29.32 (4.24) weeks). Relief in itch from UDCA was seen in 93.59% (73) in group A and 10% (3) in group B (partial relief). The mean (SD) duration for receiving only UDCA was 3.84 (2.07) weeks and 2.86 (1.58) weeks, respectively, for groups A and B. The mean (SD) gestational age at starting rifampicin was 32.11 (3.4) weeks for group B (n = 30). UDCA plus rifampicin was given for a mean (SD) duration of 3.48 (1.42) weeks. The mean (SD) dosage of UDCA given per day was 911.54 (229.05) mg in group A and 880 (260.50) mg in group B (p value = 0.563). The mean (SD) dosage of rifampicin used in group B was 700 (363.89) mg/day. The mean (SD) of baseline bile acids (pretreatment) was 36.94 (13) umol/L and 42.50 (15.23) umol/L in groups A and B, respectively (p value = 0.274). At the two-week follow-up, the mean (SD) value of serum bile acids was 22.92 (10.67) umol/L and 14.88 (10.27) umol/L in groups A and B, respectively (p value = 0.039). Group B having an earlier onset of ICP also had early gestational age at delivery at 35.70 (2.57) weeks versus 37.011 (1.18) weeks in group A. Of the babies in groups A and B, 63% and 50% were born full term, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mode of delivery for both study groups. The mean (SD) birth weight of babies was 2,706.85 (206.19) grams for group A and 2,522.67 (342.20) grams in group B. Adverse neonatal outcomes for both groups were comparable (68.5% in group A and 70% in group B) (p value = 0.881). Of the patients, 9% and 6.7% had antepartum stillbirth in groups A and B, respectively. Of the babies in groups A and B, 10.3% and 6.7% were born with dark-colored meconium or placental membranes and cord stained with meconium, respectively. In groups A and B, 9% and 6.7% of the babies were born with thin/light green meconium-stained liquor, respectively. Conclusion Rifampicin, if added to UDCA for the management of ICP, does not cause any adverse fetal outcome. It is a useful adjunct to UDCA for severe and/or resistant ICP, and it helps improve pruritus and serum bile acids.
PubMed: 36654556
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.32509 -
European Journal of Midwifery 2022According to WHO, there are nearly 2 million stillbirths every year, one every 16 seconds. The objective of our study was to assess the frequency and associated factors...
INTRODUCTION
According to WHO, there are nearly 2 million stillbirths every year, one every 16 seconds. The objective of our study was to assess the frequency and associated factors of stillbirth among women who gave birth at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, eastern Ethiopia, 2021.
METHODS
An institution-based retrospective cross-sectional study of medical records was conducted among 336 women who gave birth from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020. Maternal medical records were selected by systematic random sampling technique and a pre-tested checklist was used to collect data. Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS-version 20. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with stillbirth. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals are reported.
RESULTS
The frequency of stillbirth was 12.5% (95% CI: 8.1-14.6). Preterm delivery (AOR=8.10; 95% CI: 3.01-21.79), non-booking for antenatal care (AOR=2.8; 95% CI: 1.14-6.88), antepartum hemorrhage (AOR=3.16; 95% CI: 1.10-9.04), obstructed labor (AOR=2.56; 95% CI: 1.85-7.93) and eclampsia (AOR=2.84; 95% CI: 1.45-6.98) were found to be statistically significantly associated with stillbirth.
CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of stillbirth in this study was high. Prematurity, non-booking for antenatal care, ante-partum hemorrhage, obstructed labor and eclampsia were independently associated for stillbirth. Therefore, we recommend that the health professionals should better work on prevention of preterm birth, active emergency obstetrical and neonatal care by boosting focused antenatal care follow-up with health education on danger signs.
PubMed: 35974716
DOI: 10.18332/ejm/150354 -
PLoS Medicine Jul 2023Ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in obstetric outcomes are well established. However, the role of induction of labour (IOL) to reduce these inequalities is...
Induction of labour at 39 weeks and adverse outcomes in low-risk pregnancies according to ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation, and parity: A national cohort study in England.
BACKGROUND
Ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in obstetric outcomes are well established. However, the role of induction of labour (IOL) to reduce these inequalities is controversial, in part due to insufficient evidence. This national cohort study aimed to identify adverse perinatal outcomes associated with IOL with birth at 39 weeks of gestation ("IOL group") compared to expectant management ("expectant management group") according to maternal characteristics in women with low-risk pregnancies.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
All English National Health Service (NHS) hospital births between January 2018 and March 2021 were examined. Using the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) dataset, maternal and neonatal data (demographic, diagnoses, procedures, labour, and birth details) were linked, with neonatal mortality data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Women with a low-risk pregnancy were identified by excluding pregnancies with preexisting comorbidities, previous cesarean section, breech presentation, placenta previa, gestational diabetes, or a baby with congenital abnormalities. Women with premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, amniotic fluid abnormalities, or antepartum stillbirth were excluded only from the IOL group. Adverse perinatal outcome was defined as stillbirth, neonatal death, or neonatal morbidity, the latter identified using the English composite neonatal outcome indicator (E-NAOI). Binomial regression models estimated risk differences (with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) between the IOL group and the expectant management group, adjusting for ethnicity, socioeconomic background, maternal age, parity, year of birth, and birthweight centile. Interaction tests examined risk differences according to ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and parity. Of the 1 567 004 women with singleton pregnancies, 501 072 women with low-risk pregnancies and with sufficient data quality were included in the analysis. Approximately 3.3% of births in the IOL group (1 555/47 352) and 3.6% in the expectant management group (16 525/453 720) had an adverse perinatal outcome. After adjustment, a lower risk of adverse perinatal outcomes was found in the IOL group (risk difference -0.28%; 95% CI -0.43%, -0.12%; p = 0.001). This risk difference varied according to socioeconomic background from 0.38% (-0.08%, 0.83%) in the least deprived to -0.48% (-0.76%, -0.20%) in the most deprived national quintile (p-value for interaction = 0.01) and by parity with risk difference of -0.54% (-0.80%, -0.27%) in nulliparous women and -0.15% (-0.35%, 0.04%) in multiparous women (p-value for interaction = 0.02). There was no statistically significant evidence that risk differences varied according to ethnicity (p = 0.19). Key limitations included absence of additional confounding factors such as smoking, BMI, and the indication for induction in the HES datasets, which may mean some higher risk pregnancies were included.
CONCLUSIONS
IOL with birth at 39 weeks was associated with a small reduction in the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, with 360 inductions in low-risk pregnancies needed to avoid 1 adverse outcome. The risk reduction was mainly present in women from more socioeconomically deprived areas and in nulliparous women. There was no significant risk difference found by ethnicity. Increased uptake of IOL at 39 weeks, especially in women from more socioeconomically deprived areas, may help reduce inequalities in adverse perinatal outcomes.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Parity; Stillbirth; Cesarean Section; Cohort Studies; Ethnicity; State Medicine; Placenta; Labor, Induced; England; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 37471395
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004259 -
Reproductive Health Oct 2023In Cambodia, stillbirths and their underlying factors have not been systematically studied. This study aimed to assess the proportion and trends in stillbirths between...
Stillbirth rates and their determinants in a national maternity hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2017-2020: a cross-sectional assessment with a nested case-control study.
BACKGROUND
In Cambodia, stillbirths and their underlying factors have not been systematically studied. This study aimed to assess the proportion and trends in stillbirths between 2017 and 2020 in a large maternity referral hospital in the country and identify their key determinants to inform future prevention efforts.
METHODS
This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis with a nested case-control study of women giving birth at the National Maternal and Child Health Centre (NMCHC) in Phnom Penh, 2017-2020. We calculated percentages of singleton births at ≥ 22 weeks' gestation resulting in stillbirth and annual stillbirth rates by timing: intrapartum (fresh) or antepartum (macerated). Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with stillbirth, where cases were all women who gave birth to a singleton stillborn baby in the 4-year period. One singleton live birth immediately following each case served as an unmatched control. Multiple imputation was used to handle missing data for gestational age.
RESULTS
Between 2017 and 2020, 3.2% of singleton births ended in stillbirth (938/29,742). The stillbirth rate increased from 24.8 per 1000 births in 2017 to 38.1 per 1000 births in 2020, largely due to an increase in intrapartum stillbirth rates which rose from 18.8 to 27.4 per 1000 births in the same period. The case-control study included 938 cases (stillbirth) and 938 controls (livebirths). Factors independently associated with stillbirth were maternal age ≥ 35 years compared to < 20 years (aOR: 1.82, 95%CI: 1.39, 2.38), extreme (aOR: 3.29, 95%CI: 2.37, 4.55) or moderate (aOR: 2.45, 95%CI: 1.74, 3.46) prematurity compared with full term, and small-for-gestational age (SGA) (aOR: 2.32, 1.71, 3.14) compared to average size-for-age. Breech/transverse births had nearly four times greater odds of stillbirth (aOR: 3.84, 95%CI: 2.78, 5.29), while caesarean section reduced the odds by half compared with vaginal birth (aOR: 0.50, 95%CI: 0.39, 0.64). A history of abnormal vaginal discharge increased odds of stillbirth (aOR: 1.42, 95%CI: 1.11, 1.81) as did a history of stillbirth (aOR: 3.08, 95%CI: 1.5, 6.5).
CONCLUSIONS
Stillbirth prevention in this maternity referral hospital in Cambodia requires strengthening preterm birth detection and management of SGA, intrapartum care, monitoring women with stillbirth history, management of breech births, and further investigation of high-risk referral cases.
Topics: Child; Pregnancy; Female; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Adult; Stillbirth; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Retrospective Studies; Cesarean Section; Cambodia; Hospitals, Maternity; Premature Birth; Fetal Growth Retardation
PubMed: 37865789
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-023-01703-y -
Scientific Reports Jan 2023The Greater Accra Region (GAR) of Ghana records 2000 stillbirths annually and 40% of them occur intrapartum. An understanding of the contributing factors will facilitate...
Modeling clinical and non-clinical determinants of intrapartum stillbirths in singletons in six public hospitals in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana: a case-control study.
The Greater Accra Region (GAR) of Ghana records 2000 stillbirths annually and 40% of them occur intrapartum. An understanding of the contributing factors will facilitate the development of preventive strategies to reduce the huge numbers of intrapartum stillbirths. This study identified determinants of intrapartum stillbirths in GAR. A retrospective 1:2 unmatched case-control study was conducted in six public hospitals in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was used to quantify the effect of exposures on intrapartum stillbirth. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve and the Brier scores were used to screen potential risk factors and assess the predictive performance of the regression models. The following maternal factors increased the odds of intrapartum stillbirths: pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) [adjusted Odds Ratio; aOR = 3.72, 95% CI:1.71-8.10, p < 0.001]; antepartum haemorrhage (APH) [aOR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.33-8.10, p < 0.05] and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) [aOR = 3.36, 95% CI: 1.20-9.40, p < 0.05]. Improved management of PIH, APH, PROM, and preterm delivery will reduce intrapartum stillbirth. Hospitals should improve on the quality of monitoring women during labor. Auditing of intrapartum stillbirths should be mandatory for all hospitals and Ghana Health Service should include fetal autopsy in stillbirth auditing to identify other causes of fetal deaths. Interventions to reduce intrapartum stillbirth must combine maternal, fetal and service delivery factors to make them effective.
Topics: Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Female; Humans; Stillbirth; Case-Control Studies; Retrospective Studies; Ghana; Obstetric Labor Complications; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Uterine Hemorrhage; Risk Factors; Hospitals, Public
PubMed: 36653381
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27088-9 -
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Jul 2022Pregnancy outcomes of women with serious injuries due to violence receive limited attention. We examined the association of assault before and during pregnancy with...
Pregnancy outcomes of women with serious injuries due to violence receive limited attention. We examined the association of assault before and during pregnancy with maternal and infant outcomes at delivery. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 2,193,711 births in Quebec, Canada between 1989 and 2016. We identified women who were hospitalized for physical assault, sexual assault, and assault with documented intimate partner violence before and during pregnancy. We examined adverse outcomes at delivery, including preeclampsia, placental abruption, antepartum hemorrhage, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birthweight, and other disorders. In log-binomial regression models, we estimated risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between violence hospitalization and adverse birth outcomes, adjusted for potential confounders. Compared with no exposure, violence before or during pregnancy was associated with the future risk of placental abruption (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.23-1.82), antepartum hemorrhage (RR 1.43, 95% CI 1.19-1.71), stillbirth (RR 1.83, 95% CI 1.27-2.63), preterm birth (RR 1.70, 95% CI 1.54-1.87), and low birthweight (RR 1.78, 95% CI 1.58-2.00). Physical assault, sexual assault, and assault with documented intimate partner violence were all associated with adverse outcomes. The risk of adverse outcomes was elevated regardless of timing and number of violence admissions, although associations were stronger for women hospitalized twice or more. Physical assault, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence are important risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Screening for violence in women of childbearing age and closer follow-up during pregnancy may help improve birth outcomes.
Topics: Abruptio Placentae; Birth Weight; Female; Hemorrhage; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intimate Partner Violence; Placenta; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Premature Birth; Retrospective Studies; Sex Offenses; Stillbirth
PubMed: 33535860
DOI: 10.1177/0886260520985496 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Oct 2019Despite approximately 2.6 million stillbirths occurring annually, there is a paucity of systematic biological investigation and consequently knowledge on the causes of... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Despite approximately 2.6 million stillbirths occurring annually, there is a paucity of systematic biological investigation and consequently knowledge on the causes of these deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We investigated the utility of minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), placental examination, and clinical history, in attributing the causes of stillbirth in a South African LMIC setting.
METHODS
This prospective, observational pilot study undertook sampling of brain, lung, and liver tissue using core biopsy needles, blood and cerebrospinal fluid collection, and placental examination. Testing included microbial culture and/or molecular testing and tissue histological examination. The cause of death was determined for each case by an international panel of medical specialists and categorized using the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision application to perinatal deaths.
RESULTS
A cause of stillbirth was identifiable for 117 of 129 (90.7%) stillbirths, including an underlying maternal cause in 63.4% (n = 83) and an immediate fetal cause in 79.1% (n = 102) of cases. The leading underlying causes of stillbirth were maternal hypertensive disorders (16.3%), placental separation and hemorrhage (14.0%), and chorioamnionitis (10.9%). The leading immediate causes of fetal death were antepartum hypoxia (35.7%) and fetal infection (37.2%), including due to Escherichia coli (16.3%), Enterococcus species (3.9%), and group B Streptococcus (3.1%).
CONCLUSIONS
In this pilot, proof-of-concept study, focused investigation of stillbirth provided granular detail on the causes thereof in an LMIC setting, including provisionally highlighting the largely underrecognized role of fetal sepsis as a dominant cause.
Topics: Cause of Death; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Male; Perinatal Death; Pilot Projects; Placenta; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Prenatal Care; Proof of Concept Study; Prospective Studies; South Africa; Specimen Handling; Stillbirth
PubMed: 31598656
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz573 -
The Journal of Infectious Diseases Mar 2022Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal health outcomes, few...
BACKGROUND
Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal health outcomes, few large-scale, community-based epidemiological studies have been conducted.
METHODS
We conducted a national cohort study using deidentified administrative claims data for 78 283 pregnancies with estimated conception before 30 April 2020 and pregnancy end after 11 March 2020. We identified SARS-CoV-2 infections using diagnostic and laboratory testing data, and compared the risk of pregnancy outcomes using Cox proportional hazard models treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a time-varying exposure and adjusting for baseline covariates.
RESULTS
Of the pregnancies, 2655 (3.4%) had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19 during pregnancy was not associated with risk of miscarriage, antepartum hemorrhage, or stillbirth, but was associated with 2-3 fold higher risk of induced abortion (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-5.78), cesarean delivery (aHR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.71-2.31), clinician-initiated preterm birth (aHR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.93-4.30), spontaneous preterm birth (aHR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.37-2.34), and fetal growth restriction (aHR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.72-2.43).
CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Prevention could have fetal health benefits.
Topics: Adult; COVID-19; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Pregnancy Outcome; Premature Birth; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34958090
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab626