Audit of perinatal mortality at SSMCHRC-(Rural teaching hospital) a retrospective study

Objective: To estimate magnitude, determinants of perinatal mortality and suggest remedial measures for its reduction. Background: Perinatal mortality is mirror reflection of maternal and child health and socioeconomic environment of community. It is influenced by various medicosocial preventable causes. It can be reduced by improving maternal and child health services and by health education. Methods: A retrospective hospital based study of perinatal deaths among 2333 deliveries was conducted from June 2008 to June 2010 in our hospital. Fetomaternal factors like maternal age, religion, residence, parity, mode of delivery, booking status, antenatal complications, baby’s sex, birth weight, congenital anomalies, neonatal complications influencing perinatal mortality rate were tabulated and analyzed. Cause of perinatal death was assessed. Results: perinatal mortality rate was 127.4/1000 total births. Maternal factors like age more than 35 years, muslim religion, inadequate antenatal care, primiparity, grand multiparity, induced deliveries and neonatal factors like low birth weight, prematurity were associated with increased perinatal mortality. The leading cause of stillbirth was antepartum hemorrhage and prematurity for neonatal mortality. Conclusion: Apart from clinical causes high perinatal mortality was due to poverty, illiteracy, lack of health awareness, inadequate antenatal care and delayed referral. Health education, identification of high risk mothers, timely referral, advanced life support of preterm neonates should significantly help to reduce perinatal deaths.