Risk factors of delivery of low apgar score newborn below 7 at 1 minute: a case-control study.

ABSTRACT

To determine the significant risk factors of delivery of low Apgar score newborns below 7 at 1 minute, a case-control study was analysed in pregnant women delivered at Rajavithi Hospital between December 1, 1995 and June 30, 1996. Two hundred and two pregnant women who delivered low Apgar score newborns below 7 at 1 minute and four hundred and four pregnant women who delivered normal Apgar score newborns > or = 7 at 1 minute were recruited in the study by simple random, sampling. Risk factors which were significantly associated with low Apgar scores below 7 at 1 minute were gestational age less than 37 weeks or more than 42 weeks, birth weight less than 2,500 g or more than 4,000 g, meconium passage in the amnionic fluid, narcotic analgesic use and breech presentation. The non-significant risk factors were maternal medical or obstetric complications and oxytocin use.