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11. Perinatal mortality
Author(s) -
LISTER U. G.,
ROSSITER C. E.,
CHONG H.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1985.tb15875.x
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , antepartum haemorrhage , perinatal mortality , obstructed labour , pregnancy , infant mortality , population , pediatrics , fetus , gestation , caesarean section , environmental health , biology , genetics
Summary. The perinatal mortality rate in all singleton births was 103 per 1000; 67% of all perinatal deaths were stillbirths and in 77% of stillbirths, intrauterine death had already occurred before admission to hospital. Nine per cent of live births but 40% of stillbirths and 50% of neonatal deaths were of low birthweight (≤2.5 kg). The principal obstetric causes of perinatal deaths were obstructed labour and its consequences, anaemia, antepartum haemorrhage, eclampsia and low fetal birthweight. Nearly half of all perinatal deaths were associated with complicated deliveries of which vaginal breech delivery was by far the most hazardous. Both the proportion of babies with low birthweight and the perinatal mortality rates rose dramatically and progressively with haematocrit <0.30. A raised perinatal mortality rate was also associated with raised haematocrit >0.40. Of the biosocial factors influencing perinatal health, lack of antenatal care, residence outside Zaria, early teenage pregnancy and high parity exerted the most deleterious effect and literacy and antenatal care the most favourable effect on pregnancy outcome.