Stillbirth rate at an emerging tertiary health institution in Enugu, southeast Nigeria

Objectives To determine the stillbirth rate and factors predisposing to a stillbirth delivery at a teaching hospital in Nigeria, with the aim of identifying solutions. Method A descriptive study of all stillbirths delivered at Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Nigeria between January 1 and December 31, 2009. The sociodemographic characteristics of the mothers were documented and the possible causes of death were analyzed. Results There were 153 stillbirths and 2064 total deliveries, giving a stillbirth rate of 74 per 1000 deliveries. Of the stillbirths, 52.3% were fresh and 47.7% were macerated. Women who had not received prenatal care had a significantly higher stillbirth rate ( P < 0.05). The most likely cause of a macerated stillbirth was a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, whereas the likely causes of fresh stillbirths were labor‐related. The “3 levels of delay” and injudicious use of oxytocin in labor contributed to the intrapartum stillbirths ( P < 0.05). Conclusion The stillbirth rate recorded in the study institution is unacceptably high. Appropriate prenatal care, timely intervention, and prompt and appropriate intrapartum care are key to achieving a reduction in the stillbirth rate.