Risk factors associated with stillbirths in the rural area of Western Maharashtra, India

Background: Overall perinatal mortality rates have fallen considerably in the past several decades but fetal deaths have not decreased as rapidly as the neonatal portion. In 2009, two-third of the stillbirths in the world occurred in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and 55% stillbirths occurred in rural families from these regions. Knowledge of the relative importance of the different causes of stillbirth and neonatal deaths in developing countries is still lacking. Objective: A retrospective to assess the extent of stillbirths in a teaching hospital located in rural area. To study various causative and contributing factors for stillbirths. Materials and Methods: All the case records of the deliveries occurred in the study setting during study period (April 2009 to March 2010) were evaluated with the help of a predesigned proforma. Total 3,458 deliveries occurred, of them 141 were stillbirths. Results: Total 75.6% stillbirths occurred to the women in the age group of 20-35 years. Most of the stillbirths were preterm (67.3%) as compared to term or post-date deliveries. Significant association was observed between gestational age and stillbirth. Total 82 (58.15%) babies had low birth weight. Maternal factors were responsible for majority of stillbirths (53.19%) while 34% stillbirths were idiopathic. Conclusion: More than half of the stillbirths were associated with maternal factors like pregnancy-induced hypertension, antepartum hemorrhage and anemia. Improvement in availing essential obstetric care can reduce the magnitude of stillbirths.