Perinatal mortality and contributing factors at teaching hospital

Objective: to determine perinatal mortality rate and contributing risk factors at a teaching hospital. methods: a retrospective hospital based observational study,conducted at the department of obstetrics & gynecology unit 1v lyari general hospital,from june 2005-dec 2008. all cases of normal/malformed,still/live born from 20 weeks of pregnancy till first week of life were included in the study. detailed maternal history & examination was done. confirmation & examination of dead fetus & new born done by paediatrician. perinatal mortality & perinatal mortality rate was calculated. results: during 3 1/2-year study period total number of births was 2631. out of them 112 (67.06%) were stillbirths & 55 (32.9%) had early neonatal death. perinatal mortality is 167 and perinatal mortality rate is 63.47/1000 births. majority of mothers were young,of low parity,non booked & from low socioeconomic group. mean gestational age was 32.5 weeks. risk factors identified for perinatal mortality were medical disorders 22.1%,mismanaged labor 17.9%,congenital anomalies 14.9%,antepartum hemorrhage 13.7% premature rupture of membranes in11.3 % cases & miscellaneous factors 19.7% (pretem labor,conjoint twins & cord around neck). major causes of perinatal mortality were prematurity,perinatal anoxia & congenital malformation. conclusion: factors responsible for high perinatal mortality are avoidable & perinatal mortality rate can be reduced by public awareness,health education & delivery of high-risk pregnancies at tertiary care hospital.