Stillbirth Rate in a Teaching Hospital in South-Eastern Nigeria: A Silent Tragedy

Background: Stillbirths often are not seen as a major public health problem; for despite increasing attention and investment on maternal; neonatal; and child health; stillbirths remain invisible. Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the stillbirth rate at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital; Orlu. Subjects and Methods : Analysis of the case records of stillbirths that occurred in the institution over a 5-year period from 1 st July 2005 to 30 th June 2010 was made. Data retrieved was analyzed for age of the women; parity; presumptive risk factor for the stillbirth; and booking status of the women. Also; the total births during the period of study were obtained. A P-value of 0.05 is said to be significant at confidence level of 95 (95/100). Results : There were a total of 1;142 deliveries within the study period; out of which 206 resulted in stillbirths. This gave an institutional stillbirth rate of 18 (180/1000 deliveries). One-hundred and fifty-five 75.2 (155/206) of the stillbirths were macerated stillbirth. The age range of the women was 15-44 years. The modal age was 31 years. The age group of 26-30 years had the highest prevalence rate of stillbirths of 79 (38.3 ;79/206); while age group of more than 40 years contributed the least with four stillbirths 4 (1.9 ; 4/206). Conclusion : The stillbirth rate at the institution is too high and efforts must be made to reduce it

Stillbirth Rate in a Teaching Hospital in South-eastern Nigeria: A Silent Tragedy

Stillbirths often are not seen as a major public health problem; for despite increasing attention and investment on maternal; neonatal; and child health; stillbirths remain invisible. Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the stillbirth rate at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital; Orlu. Subjects and Methods : Analysis of the case records of stillbirths that occurred in the institution over a 5-year period from 1 st July 2005 to 30 th June 2010 was made. Data retrieved was analyzed for age of the women; parity; presumptive risk factor for the stillbirth; and booking status of the women. Also; the total births during the period of study were obtained. A P-value of 0.05 is said to be significant at confidence level of 95 (95/100). Results : There were a total of 1;142 deliveries within the study period; out of which 206 resulted in stillbirths. This gave an institutional stillbirth rate of 18 (180/1000 deliveries). One-hundred and fifty-five 75.2 (155/206) of the stillbirths were macerated stillbirth. The age range of the women was 15-44 years. The modal age was 31 years. The age group of 26-30 years had the highest prevalence rate of stillbirths of 79 (38.3; 79/206); while age group of more than 40 years contributed the least with four stillbirths 4 (1.9; 4/206). Conclusion : The stillbirth rate at the institution is too high and efforts must be made to reduce it

Preliminary Outcome of the Management of Eclampsia at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital

Background: Eclampsia continues to be a major cause of maternal and perinatal mortality in developing countries. Early identification and management of pre-eclampsia will help reduce the mortality due to eclampsia. Aim: This study aims at determining the prevalence and management outcome of eclampsia in our centre with a view to proffering solutions for an optimal or near optimal care.Methods: A retrospective review of the case records of patients managed for eclampsia at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH); Orlu from 1st October 2004 to 30th September 2009 was carried out. Data on socio-demographic characteristics as well as clinical management and outcome were extracted and analyzed.Results: The prevalence of eclampsia was 2.7of all the deliveries. The prevalence was significantly higher in the unbooked than the booked patients (p0.05). The prevalence was also significantly higher in primigravidae than in multiparae (p0.05). Twenty-eight (93.3) of the eclampsia occurred antepartum. Twenty-eight (93.3) had severe hypertension on presentation. Twenty nine (95.8) of the patients had 2-5 episodes of convulsions prior to presentation to the hospital. Twenty-six (86.7) of the patients had emergency Caesarean section was carried out; mostly for unfavourable cervix. The perinatal mortality was 6.7while maternal mortality was 3.3. Complications included acute renal failure; aspiration pneumonitis and abruptio placentae. Conclusion: The prevalence of eclampsia is unacceptably high in our centre. Early antenatal booking; antenatal care follow-up to identify the imminent signs and prompt treatment of cases of pre-eclampsia will reduce the burden of eclampsia in this environment