A restrospective study of still births at the Unversity Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.

Abstract

Zambia's Perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) ranks amongst the highest in the world and the need to reduce it is well recognized. Just well over 50% of this mortality is attributed to stillbirths and reduction of stillbirth would inevitably lead to a decrease in Perinatal Mortality (PNM). Despite huge deliveries at UTH of 10000 annually, reviews of stillbirth are lacking. This was a descriptive retrospective study of stillbirths that occurred at UTH during a one year period from May 2001 to April 2002 and it aimed to establish the pattern of stillbirths and identify areas that could be useful in reducing this high PNM. The incidence of stillbirth at the institution was 49/1000 during the studied period and the general pattern and picture of stillbirth was opposite that found in the developed nations. First pregnancies, grandmultiparity, adolescent pregnancies, haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders and intrapartum care were areas that could be useful in preventing and reducing PNM at UTH. In addition, Low socio-economic status and poverty were seen as underlying factors. In general terms reducing the rate of adolescent pregnancies and improving the quality of obstetric care both at the referral clinics and UTH were recommended. Prospective studies aimed at indentifying specific causes of poor obstetric care and those including the referral clinics would even be more helpful in reducing PNM.