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. 2024 Apr 12;24(1):270.
doi: 10.1186/s12884-024-06486-z.

Stillbirth rate and associated factors at the Bamenda Regional hospital, North-West region, Cameroon, from 2018 to 2022: a case control study

Achuo Ascensius Ambe Mforteh  1   2 , Dobgima Walter Pisoh  3   4 , Merlin Boten  3 , Nkomodio Enanga-Linda Andoh  3 , Theodore Yangsi Tameh  3 , Audrey-Fidelia Eyere Mbi-Kobenge  3 , Kingsley Sama Ombaku  4 , William Ako Takang  3 , Robinson Enow Mbu  5   6
Affiliations

Stillbirth rate and associated factors at the Bamenda Regional hospital, North-West region, Cameroon, from 2018 to 2022: a case control study

Achuo Ascensius Ambe Mforteh et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. .

Abstract

Background: Stillbirth is a common adverse pregnancy outcome worldwide, with an estimated 2.6 million stillbirths yearly. In Cameroon, the reported rate in 2015 was 19.6 per 1000 live births. Several risk factors have been described, but region-specific risk factors are not known in the northwest region of Cameroon. This study aims to determine the stillbirth rate and associated factors at the Bamenda Regional hospital, North-West region of Cameroon.

Materials and methods: A Hospital-based case‒control study conducted from December 2022 to June 2023 on medical files from 2018 to 2022 at the Bamenda Regional Hospital. Cases were women with stillbirths that occurred at a gestational age of ≥ 28 weeks, while controls were women with livebirths matched in a 1:2 (1 case for 2 controls) ratio using maternal age. Sociodemographic, obstetric, medical, and neonatal factors were used as exposure variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine adjusted odds ratios of exposure variables with 95% confidence intervals and a p value of < 0.05.

Results: A total of 12,980 births including 116 stillbirths giving a stillbirth rate of 8.9 per 1000 live births. A hundred cases and 200 controls were included. Factors associated with stillbirths after multivariable analysis include nulliparity (aOR = 3.89; 95% CI: 1.19-12.71; p = 0.025), not attending antenatal care (aOR = 104; 95% CI: 3.17-3472; p = 0.009), history of stillbirth (aOR = 44; 95% CI: 7-270; p < 0.0001), placenta abruption (aOR = 14; 95% CI: 2.4-84; p = 0.003), hypertensive disorder in pregnancy (aOR = 18; 95% CI: 3.4-98; p = 0.001), malaria (aOR = 8; 95% CI: 1.51-42; p = 0.015), alcohol consumption (aOR = 9; 95% CI: 1.72-50; p = 0.01), birth weight less than 2500 g (aOR = 16; 95% CI: 3.0-89; p = 0.001), and congenital malformations (aOR = 12.6; 95% CI: 1.06-149.7;p = 0.045).

Conclusion: The stillbirth rate in BRH is 8.9 per 1000 live births. Associated factors for stillbirth include nulliparity, not attending antenatal care, history of stillbirth, placental abruption, hypertensive disorder in pregnancy, malaria, alcohol consumption, birth weight less than 2500 g, and congenital malformations. Close antenatal care follow-up of women with such associated factors is recommended.

Keywords: Bamenda; Cameroon; Case–control; Risk factors; Stillbirth; Stillbirth rate.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

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Fig. 1
Flow diagram for study population
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