ASSESSMENT OF PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF STILLBIRTH IN ASANTE AKIM SOUTH DISTRICT

Abstract

Introduction: Developing countries records about 98% of the global annual number of stillbirths. The major causes of stillbirth are childbirth complications, maternal infections in pregnancy, and maternal disorders, especially hypertension, maternal under nutrition, fetal growth restriction, and congenital abnormalities. However, in Ghana there is very little information on the prevalence and causes of stillbirth. Objectives: The objectives of this study is to determine the prevalence and the associated risk factors of stillbirth in the Asante Akim South District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana Methodology: Records of women who delivered at health facilities in the district from 151 January 2010 to 31 st December 2012 were retrieved from the maternity wards and data extracted for those who had stillbirth. Maternal characteristics such as age, occupation, parity, educational level, clinic attendance and anti-malarial prophylaxis were recorded and analyzed. In addition, certain characteristics ofthe stillborn such as birth weight, gestational age, sex and type of delivery as well as type of stillborn were also recorded. Results: The total number of deliveries in the district was 6356 and 141 were stillbirths giving a stillbirth prevalence of22.2 per 1000 births over the period of which most 80 (56.7%) were fresh. Most of the women had low education coupled with low-income employments. The factors that were found to be associated with stillbirths were maternal and foetal characteristics, as well as clinical factors. Low ANC attendance, low educational level of mothers, and malaria in pregnancy, low birth weight, and gestational age were the major ones. Conclusion: The prevalence of stillbirth of 22.2 per 1000 birth was relatively high. The major risk factors were of both maternal and feotal origin with parity, type of delivery, low birth weight and complications during delivery being the major contributors. More than 50% of the stillbirths were fresh with 43% of the stillbirths were macerated. About 18% of the mothers were teenagers, and about 70% of the mothers were engaged in farming and petty trading. Recommendation: The District Health Administration Team should institute health promotion programmes to increase ANC attendance and promote adolescent reproductive health. There is a need to conduct a prospective research on stillbirth in the district.