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Factors Influencing Stillbirth in B angladesh: A Case–Control Study
Author(s) -
Nahar Shamsun,
Rahman Atiya,
Nasreen Hashima E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
paediatric and perinatal epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3016
pISSN - 0269-5022
DOI - 10.1111/ppe.12026
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , odds ratio , confidence interval , population , fetal distress , pregnancy , demography , gynecology , fetus , environmental health , pathology , sociology , biology , genetics
Background Studies on a limited scale in urban settings of B angladesh report stillbirth rates that do not specifically provide information on the situation of underprivileged slum populations. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, stillbirth in a developing population. Methods A case–control study was conducted on women having a singleton birth between N ovember 2008 and A pril 2009 in 34 slum areas in D haka. Data were collected on 231 women with stillbirth (cases) and 464 women having livebirth (controls). This study utilised the records of the Manoshi programme and supplemented it with data obtained through interview of the women. Results The stillbirth rate was 26 per 1000 total births, of which 62% occurred during the intrapartum period. Obstetrical complications contributed to 61.4% of stillbirths. Illiterate women [odds ratio ( OR ) 1.6 [95% confidence interval ( CI ) 1.1, 2.2]], women aged ≥35 years ( OR 2.9 [95% CI 1.5, 25.5]), preterm delivery ( OR 5.2 [95% CI , 3.2, 8.5]), prolonged labour ( OR 2.8 [95% CI 1.6, 4.6]) and failure of labour progress ( OR 2.4 [95% CI 1.1, 5.5]) were significant maternal risk factors, while decreased fetal movement, fetal malpresentation and fetal distress were the fetal risk factors associated with stillbirth. Conclusions Risk factors associated with stillbirths are amenable to intervention. There is an urgent need to educate pregnant women about risk factors for stillbirths during antenatal visits. Encouraging women to deliver at health facilities and better management of obstetrical complications may help reduce the burden of stillbirths in B angladesh.