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A facility‐based study of factors associated with perinatal mortality in Tigray, northern Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Goba Gelila K.,
Tsegay Hailesilassie,
Gebregergs Gebremedhin B.,
Mitiku Mengistu,
Kim Kimberly A.,
Alemayehu Mussie
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.12438
Subject(s) - medicine , confidence interval , odds ratio , childbirth , logistic regression , obstetrics , low birth weight , perinatal mortality , pregnancy , birth weight , prenatal care , pediatrics , population , fetus , environmental health , genetics , biology
Objective To identify perinatal mortality risk factors in the Southern Zone of Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Methods The present unmatched case–control study included data from 20 health facilities; stillbirths and neonatal deaths were included as a case group and patients with neonates who survived until discharge or day 7 postpartum were included as a control group. Perinatal mortality risk factors were investigated using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results There were 126 and 252 patients included in the case and control groups, respectively. Prematurity (adjusted odds ratio [ AOR ] 12.2; 95% confidence interval [ CI ] 3.46–43.17; P <0.001), delivery weight below 2500 g ( AOR 11.5, 95% CI 3.16–42.36; P <0.001), and fewer prenatal visits ( AOR 5.4; 95% CI 0.80–36.63; P =0.028) were determinants of perinatal mortality. Partograph use ( AOR 0.2; 95% CI 0.08–0.48; P <0.001) and seeking labor care at the start of labor ( AOR 0.1; 95% CI 0.01–0.96; P =0.010) were protective. Short childbirth interval (<2 years) ( AOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.03–5.09; P =0.013), distance to facility ( AOR 3.7; 95% CI 1.56–9.02; P =0.007), and lack of iron supplementation ( AOR 3.3; 95% CI 1.16–9.76; P =0.021) were also predictors of perinatal mortality. Conclusion Perinatal mortality was linked to prematurity and low delivery weight. Interventions including partograph and auscultation, as well as subsidizing transport and iron supplementation, could help in this region.