Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016;5(1):24-31.
doi: 10.21106/ijma.89.

Correlates of Stillbirths at Nyeri Provincial General Hospital, Kenya, 2009-2013: A Retrospective Study

Joyce J Cheptum  1 , Nelly Muiruri  2 , Ernest Mutua  1 , Moses Gitonga  1 , Mwangi Juma  2
Affiliations

Correlates of Stillbirths at Nyeri Provincial General Hospital, Kenya, 2009-2013: A Retrospective Study

Joyce J Cheptum et al. Int J MCH AIDS. 2016.

Abstract

Background: Death of a baby in-utero is a very devastating event to the mother and the family. Most stillbirths occur during labor and birth with other deaths occurring during the antenatal period. Millions of families experience stillbirths, yet these deaths remain uncounted, and policies have not been clearly stipulated to address this issue. The aim of the study was to identify the possible causes of stillbirths as recorded in the medical records.

Methods: A retrospective study looking at medical records of women who experienced stillbirths between 1(st) January 2009 and 31(st) December 2013 at Nyeri Provincial General Hospital, Kenya. The hospital records containing cases of stillbirths were retrieved and data abstraction forms were used to collect data and information.

Results: Both fresh and macerated stillbirths were equally common. The stillbirth rate was 12.2 per 1,000 births. There was significant association between stillbirths and the clients who were referred and reason for referral, (p=0.029) and (p=0.005), respectively. The number of ANC visits during pregnancy was also significant (p=0.05). Mode of delivery and the reason for cesarean section were significantly associated with stillbirths, (p=0.003) and (p=0.032), respectively. The type of labor and delivery complications experienced was associated with stillbirths (p= 0.022).

Conclusion and global health implications: There were several factors associated with stillbirths thus efforts should be made to establish approaches aimed at prevention. Addressing the causes of stillbirths will contribute to reduction of perinatal mortality.

Keywords: Delivery; Kenya; Labor; Medical Records; Nyeri; Referral; Stillbirths.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Labor and Delivery Complications
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. WHO. International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. 10th Revision. Vol. 2. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1993.
    1. Republic of Kenya (ROK) National Roadmap for accelerating the attainment of MDGs related to maternal and newborn health in Kenya, Ministry of Health, Central Bureau of Statistics, Macro International. Nairobi, Kenya: 2010.
    1. WHO Neonatal and Perinatal Mortality – Country, Regional and Global Estimates. Geneva: 2006.
    1. Lawn JE, Blencowe H, Pattinson R, Cousens S, Kumar R, Ibiebele I, Gardosi J, Day LT, Stanton C Lancet’s Stillbirths Series steering committee. Stillbirths: Where? When? Why? How to make the data count? Lancet. 2011;23(377) 9775:1448–63. - PubMed
    1. Partnership for Maternal Child health (PMNCH) fact sheet: Stillbirths. [accessed on 19-09-2015]. http://www.who.int/pmnch/media/press_materials/fs/201106_stillbirths/en .

LinkOut - more resources