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Jafari M, Meraji M, Mirteimouri M, Heidarzadeh M. Evaluating the accuracy of International Classification of Disease Perinatal Mortality (ICD-PM) codes assigned on death certificates before and after expert panel review: a mixed methods observational study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:643. [PMID: 39363184 PMCID: PMC11448375 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06855-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the accuracy of International Classification of Disease Perinatal Mortality (ICD-PM) codes assigned on death certificates before and after an expert panel review. METHOD The present study was a mixed methods observational study conducted at Umm al-Benin Hospital, the sole specialized obstetrics and gynecology center affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The study comprised three distinct stages: (1) Collecting primary ICD-PM codes assigned to perinatal death certificates, along with other relevant information, from October 2021 to March 2022; (2) Examining the circumstances of each perinatal death case and re-identifying the causes of death through a consensus process involving a panel of experts comprising pediatricians, obstetrics and gynecology specialists, and nursing and midwifery experts; presenting the new ICD-PM code; (3) Comparing the ICD-PM codes assigned to perinatal death certificates before and after the expert panel's evaluation. RESULT During the study period, a total of seven specialized panels were conducted to examine perinatal deaths. Out of the 71 cases, 41 were carefully reviewed by experts. These cases included 32 stillbirths and nine neonatal deaths. The examination process followed specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings revealed that there were no significant changes in the causes of neonatal deaths. However, it was notable that 80% of the previously unknown causes of stillbirths were successfully identified. Notably, the occurrence of stillbirths increased by 78% due to maternal causes and conditions. CONCLUSION Convening panels of experts to discuss the causes of perinatal deaths can effectively reduce the percentage of unknown causes, as classified by ICD-PM. This approach also guarantees the availability of essential data for implementing effective interventions to decrease preventable perinatal deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Jafari
- Health Information Management, Department of Health Information Technology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Marziyhe Meraji
- Health Information Management, Department of Health Information Technology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Mirteimouri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Kumsa H, Mislu E, Yimer NB. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the globally reported International Classification of Diseases to Perinatal Mortality (ICD-PM). Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1434380. [PMID: 39376654 PMCID: PMC11457888 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1434380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Accurate recording and identification of perinatal mortality causes are crucial to reducing the global burden of perinatal mortality through targeted interventions. However, existing studies on the International Classifications of Diseases to Perinatal Mortality (ICD-PM) are limited by inconsistent results and variations by gestational age. Thus, this review aims to synthesize and document updated data on the causes of death using the ICD-PM classification. Methods Electronic databases such as the PubMed via MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Sciences, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PROSPERO were searched to retrieve studies published from 2016 to February 2024. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and heterogeneity between the studies was assessed using I2 statistics. ICD-PM coded reported data were extracted to Microsoft Excel, and aggregate data of frequencies and percentages were reported. Results Out of the 23 included studies, 48,596 perinatal mortalities were reported, and approximately 96% (46,816 deaths) were classified according to the ICD-PM. The pooled rate of stillbirths in high-income countries was 23/1,000 births; in low-income countries, it was found to be approximately twice as in high-income countries. Regarding the category of deaths, 25,563 (54.6%) deaths were recorded in the antepartum period, and more than half, 14,887 (58.2%), were classified under unspecified causes (A6). Moreover, 6,148 (13.7%) and 14,835 (31.7%) deaths were coded with intrapartum and neonatal period causes, respectively. The leading causes of perinatal mortality during the intrapartum were acute intrapartum events (I3) 3,712 (57.8%). Furthermore, neonatal death was caused by low birth weight and prematurity (N9) 4,091 (27.6%), congenital malformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (N1) 2,512(16.9%). Conclusion Congenital malformations, and chromosomal abnormalities contribute to 1 in every 10 perinatal deaths and 1 in every 4 neonatal deaths. Other specified antepartum disorders are responsible for over half of antepartum deaths, while acute intrapartum events are the leading cause of intrapartum deaths, with a significant proportion remaining unexplained. Maternal complications related to the placenta, membranes, cord, labor, and delivery play a significant role in antepartum and intrapartum deaths. Targeted interventions and improved monitoring of high-risk pregnancies are crucial to reducing perinatal mortality rates. Further investigation is needed to enhance understanding and address unexplained perinatal deaths. Systematic review registration [https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [CRD4202452549].
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Affiliation(s)
- Henok Kumsa
- School of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
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Siqithi S, Durojaiye OC, Adeniyi OV. Effects of the timing of maternal antiretroviral therapy initiation, CD4 count, and HIV viral load on birth outcomes in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa: A secondary data analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0308374. [PMID: 39240844 PMCID: PMC11379262 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antiretroviral therapy (ART) use during pregnancy is essential to prevent vertical transmission of HIV, but it may also increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes. This study investigated the impact of both maternal HIV infection and the timing of ART initiation on birth outcomes in women living with HIV in South Africa. METHODS This secondary data analysis examined the dataset from an earlier cohort study involving 1709 pregnant women living with HIV who delivered their babies at three major maternity centres in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa between September 2015 and May 2018. The associations between adverse birth outcomes (stillbirth, preterm birth, very preterm birth, and low birth weight) and the timing of maternal ART initiation, peripartum CD4 count, and HIV viral load were examined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The observed rates of stillbirth, preterm birth, very preterm birth, and low birth weight were 1.4%, 33.5%, 5.4% and 18.0%, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, low birth weight was associated with ART initiated during the second trimester (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.85), low-level viraemia (21-999 copies/ml) (aOR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.17-2.22), and high-level viraemia (≥1000 copies/ml) (aOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.66-2.38) during the peripartum period. Preterm birth was associated with low-level viraemia (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.16-1.79) and a CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm3 (aOR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01-1.82). Very preterm birth was associated with detectable maternal viraemia. CONCLUSION Adverse birth outcomes are common among pregnant women living with HIV, especially those with unsuppressed viraemia. Clinicians and programme managers should prioritise timeous ART initiation and virological suppression in all pregnant women living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisanda Siqithi
- Department of Paediatrics, Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, Walter Sisulu University, East London, South Africa
| | - Oyewole Christopher Durojaiye
- Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
| | - Oladele Vincent Adeniyi
- Department of Family Medicine, Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, Walter Sisulu University, East London, South Africa
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Hanson C, de Bont J, Annerstedt KS, Alsina MDR, Nobile F, Roos N, Waiswa P, Pembe A, Dossou JP, Chipeta E, Benova L, Kidanto H, Part C, Stafoggia M, Filippi V, Ljungman P. A time-stratified, case-crossover study of heat exposure and perinatal mortality from 16 hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. Nat Med 2024:10.1038/s41591-024-03245-7. [PMID: 39227446 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03245-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that extreme heat events affect both pregnant women and their infants, but few studies are available from sub-Saharan Africa. Using data from 138,015 singleton births in 16 hospitals in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda, we investigated the association between extreme heat and early perinatal deaths, including antepartum and intrapartum stillbirths, and deaths within 24 h after birth using a time-stratified case-crossover design. We observed an association between an increase from the 75th to the 99th percentile in mean temperature 1 week (lag 0-6 d) before childbirth and perinatal mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 1.34 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.78)). The estimates for stillbirths were similarly positive, but CIs included unity: OR = 1.29 (95% CI 0.95-1.77) for all stillbirths, OR = 1.18 (95% CI 0.71-1.95) for antepartum stillbirths and OR = 1.64 (95% CI 0.74-3.63) for intrapartum stillbirths. The cumulative exposure-response curve suggested that the steepest slopes for heat for intrapartum stillbirths and associations were stronger during the hottest seasons. We conclude that short-term heat exposure may increase mortality risks, particularly for intrapartum stillbirths, raising the importance of improved intrapartum care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hanson
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
- Centre of Excellence for Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Jeroen de Bont
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Federica Nobile
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Health Service/ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Nathalie Roos
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Andrea Pembe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jean-Paul Dossou
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction Humaine et en Démographie (CERRHUD), Cotonou, Benin
| | - Effie Chipeta
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Kamuzu University of Health Science, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Lenka Benova
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hussein Kidanto
- Centre of Excellence for Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Cherie Part
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Health Service/ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Petter Ljungman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, Danderyd Hospital, Danderyd, Sweden
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Adebanji AO, Asare C, Gyamerah SA. Predictive analysis on the factors associated with birth Outcomes: A machine learning perspective. Int J Med Inform 2024; 189:105529. [PMID: 38905958 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies reveal that around 1.9 million stillbirths occur annually worldwide, with Sub-Saharan Africa having among the highest cases. Some Sub-Saharan African countries, including Ghana, failed to meet Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG5) by 2015 and may struggle to meet Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) despite maternal healthcare interventions. Concerns arise about Ghana's ability to achieve the World Health Organization's neonatal mortality goal of 12 per 1000 live births by 2030. This study aims to identify key factors influencing childbirth outcomes and create a predictive method for high-risk pregnancies. METHODS We compared four machine learning classifiers (Extreme Gradient Boosting, Random Forest, Logistic Regression, and Artificial Neural Network) in predicting childbirth outcomes using data from a tertiary health facility in Ghana. To address class imbalance, we employed the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE). RESULTS Our findings show that fetal heartbeat, gestation age at birth are the most influential factors on birth outcome (stillbirth or live birth), while there is no significant association with maternal age, number of babies, and type of delivery method. Among the machine learning models considered, Random Forest emerged as the optimal model achieving an accuracy, F1-score, and AUC values of approximately 0.98, 0.99, and 0.90 respectively. CONCLUSION Our study identifies key factors affecting childbirth outcomes and highlights the potential of machine learning for early high-risk pregnancy detection in clinical settings. These findings are crucial for Ghana and other Sub-Saharan African countries striving to meet maternal and neonatal healthcare goals. Further research and policy initiatives can use these results to improve healthcare in the region and work toward the World Health Organization's objectives by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atinuke Olusola Adebanji
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Clement Asare
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel Asante Gyamerah
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
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Buralli RJ, da Silva ZP, Alencar GP, Figueiredo GM, Hoshida MS, Luna EJA, Pastro LDM, Santos OAD, Marques LJP, Zerbinati RM, Galisteo Junior AJ, Andrade Junior HD, Machado CM, Meireles LR, Schultz R, Rodrigues LC, Francisco RPV, Novaes HMD, Almeida MFD, Gouveia N. Assessing the risks for stillbirth in São Paulo, Brazil: protocol for a multidisciplinary case-control study - FetRisks. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e079261. [PMID: 38866578 PMCID: PMC11177680 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Stillbirth is a fundamental component of childhood mortality, but its causes are still insufficiently understood. This study aims to explore stillbirth risk factors by using a multidisciplinary approach to stimulate public policies and protocols to prevent stillbirth, improve maternal care and support bereaved families. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In this case-control study with stillbirths and live births in 14 public hospitals in São Paulo, mothers are interviewed at hospitals after delivery, and hospital records and prenatal care registries are reviewed. Maternal and umbilical cord blood samples and placentas are collected to analyse angiogenesis and infection biomarkers, and the placenta's anatomopathological exam. Air pollutant exposure is estimated through the participant's residence and work addresses. Traditional and non-invasive autopsies by image-guided histopathology are conducted in a subset of stillbirths. Subsample mothers of cases are interviewed at home 2 months after delivery on how they were dealing with grief. Information contained in the official prenatal care registries of cases and controls is being compiled. Hospital managers are interviewed about the care offered to stillbirth mothers. Data analysis will identify the main risk factors for stillbirth, investigate their interrelations, and evaluate health services care and support for bereaved families. We hope this project will contribute to the understanding of stillbirth's risk factors and related health services in Brazil, providing new knowledge about this central public health problem, contributing to the improvement of public policies and prenatal and puerperal care, helping to prevent stillbirths and improve the healthcare and support for bereaved families. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Municipal Health Secretary (process no 16509319.0.3012.5551) and of the Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (process no 16509319.0.0000.0068). Results will be communicated to the study participants, policy-makers and the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Junqueira Buralli
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidade de Sao Paulo Faculdade de Medicina, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Zilda Pereira da Silva
- Departamento de Epidemiologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo Faculdade de Saude Publica, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gizelton Pereira Alencar
- Departamento de Epidemiologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo Faculdade de Saude Publica, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gerusa Maria Figueiredo
- Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mara Sandra Hoshida
- Laboratorio de Investigaçao Medica em Fisiologia Obstetrica (LIM 57), Universidade de São Paulo Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Expedito J A Luna
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Osmara Alves Dos Santos
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Rodrigo Melim Zerbinati
- Laboratorio de Virologia (LIM 52), Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andrés Jimenez Galisteo Junior
- Laboratorio de Investigaçao Medica em Protozoologia, Bacteriologia e Resistencia Antimicrobiana (LIM 49), Universidade de Sao Paulo Hospital das Clinicas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Heitor de Andrade Junior
- Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratorio de Anatomia Patologica, Universidade de Sao Paulo Hospital das Clinicas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Clarisse M Machado
- Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratorio de Virologia (LIM 52), Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Regina Schultz
- Laboratorio de Anatomia Patologica, Universidade de Sao Paulo Hospital das Clinicas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Rossana Pulcineli Vieira Francisco
- Laboratorio de Investigaçao Medica em Fisiologia Obstetrica (LIM 57), Universidade de São Paulo Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Marcia Furquim de Almeida
- Departamento de Epidemiologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo Faculdade de Saude Publica, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nelson Gouveia
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidade de Sao Paulo Faculdade de Medicina, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Mforteh AAA, Pisoh DW, Boten M, Andoh NEL, Tameh TY, Mbi-Kobenge AFE, Ombaku KS, Takang WA, Mbu RE. Stillbirth rate and associated factors at the Bamenda Regional hospital, North-West region, Cameroon, from 2018 to 2022: a case control study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:270. [PMID: 38609848 PMCID: PMC11010432 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06486-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achuo Ascensius Ambe Mforteh
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bamenda, Cameroon.
- Bamenda Regional Hospital, Bamenda, Cameroon.
| | - Dobgima Walter Pisoh
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bamenda, Cameroon
- Bamenda Regional Hospital, Bamenda, Cameroon
| | - Merlin Boten
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bamenda, Cameroon
| | | | | | | | | | - William Ako Takang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bamenda, Cameroon
| | - Robinson Enow Mbu
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon
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Nakamya P, Komakech A, Migamba SM, Biribawa C, Kwesiga B, Bulage L, Ario AR, Ocom F. Trends and geospatial distribution of stillbirths in Uganda, 2014-2020. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:249. [PMID: 38589779 PMCID: PMC11000338 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06434-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Uganda with 17.8 stillbirths per 1,000 deliveries in 2021, is among the countries with a high burden of stillbirths globally. In 2014, Uganda adopted the World Health Organization Every New-born Action Plan (ENAP), which targets < 10 stillbirths per 1,000 deliveries by 2035. Little is known about the trends of stillbirth burden since ENAP was introduced. We assessed the temporal, and spatial distribution of stillbirths, in Uganda, 2014-2020, to inform programming for safe pregnancies and deliveries. METHODS We obtained and analysed stillbirth surveillance data from the District Health Information System, 2014-2020. A stillbirth was defined as the death of a foetus > 28 weeks of pregnancy or weighing > 1000 g before or during birth and reported to a health facility. We calculated annual incidence rates of stillbirths per 1,000 deliveries at district, regional, and national levels. We used logistic regression to determine the significance of trends. RESULTS The overall national annual incidence of stillbirths decreased from 24/1,000 deliveries in 2014 to 17/1,000 deliveries in 2020. During the same period, reporting rates declined from 71% in 2014 to 46% in 2020. The central region continuously had the highest incidence rate for the past 5 years despite the largest decline (OR = 0.79; CI = 0.77-0.83, P < 0.001) while the eastern region had the smallest decline (OR = 0.59; CI = 0.57-0.61, P < 0.001). Districts with persistently high annual incidence rates of stillbirths (> 30/1000) included Mubende, Kalangala, Hoima, and Nebbi. There was no difference in the reporting rates of the most- vs. least-affected districts. CONCLUSION Even with suboptimal reporting, the incidence of stillbirths remained above the national target. Specific areas in the country appear to have particularly high stillbirth rates. We recommend continuous capacity building in managing pregnant women with an emphasis on the most affected districts, and investigation into the reasons for low reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petranilla Nakamya
- Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
- National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Allan Komakech
- Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Benon Kwesiga
- Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Lilian Bulage
- Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Alex R Ario
- Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Felix Ocom
- National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
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Shabanov PD, Urakov AL, Urakova NA. Assessment of fetal resistance to hypoxia using the Stange test as an adjunct to Apgar scale assessment of neonatal health status. MEDICAL ACADEMIC JOURNAL 2024; 23:89-102. [DOI: 10.17816/maj568979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2024]
Abstract
It has been established that the cause of biological death of fetuses in stillbirths and the cause of neonatal encephalopathies in live births is hypoxic brain cell damage in fetuses. Timely cesarean section remains the most effective way to preserve fetal life and health in the face of lethal intrauterine hypoxia. However, there is no universally recognized methodology for assessing fetal adaptation reserves to hypoxia and no methodology for selecting the type of delivery in order to perform a timely cesarean section if necessary. The Apgar score, which has been used since 1952, allows assessment of neonatal health at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, but this assessment is made without taking into account the health of the fetus before delivery. In recent years, it has been established that the outcome of fetal hypoxia is determined not only by its duration, but also by the amount of adaptive reserves available in the fetus to hypoxia. It was found that the duration of fetal immobility during apnea of a pregnant woman is an indicator of fetal resistance to hypoxia. In 2011, a method of assessing fetal resistance to intrauterine hypoxia based on the Stange test was developed in Russia. It has been found that the maximum duration of fetal immobility during maternal apnea is normally more than 30 seconds, while in the presence of fetal signs of fetoplacental insufficiency it does not reach 30 seconds, and in the presence of signs of severe fetoplacental insufficiency it does not reach 10 seconds. Therefore, it was proposed to consider good fetal resistance to hypoxia as an indication for vaginal delivery, and poor fetal resistance to hypoxia as an indication for cesarean section. A technique for assessing fetal resistance to hypoxia is described that has been developed for independent use by every pregnant woman. It is shown that it is sufficient for her to have a stopwatch and to be able to record the maximum period of fetal immobility during voluntary apnea. It is hoped that a measure of fetal resistance to hypoxia could be a meaningful complement to the Apgar score of neonatal health. It is envisioned that the use of a modified Stange test could help physicians prevent stillbirths and neonatal encephalopathies.
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Feng CS, Li SF, Ju HH. The application of the ICD-10 for antepartum stillbirth patients in a referral centre of Eastern China: a retrospective study from 2015 to 2022. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:164. [PMID: 38408955 PMCID: PMC10895843 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06313-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The causes of some stillbirths are unclear, and additional work must be done to investigate the risk factors for stillbirths. OBJECTIVE To apply the International Classification of Disease-10 (ICD-10) for antepartum stillbirth at a referral center in eastern China. METHODS Antepartum stillbirths were grouped according to the cause of death according to the International Classification of Disease-10 (ICD-10) criteria. The main maternal condition at the time of antepartum stillbirth was assigned to each patient. RESULTS Antepartum stillbirths were mostly classified as fetal deaths of unspecified cause, antepartum hypoxia. Although more than half of the mothers were without an identified condition at the time of the antepartum stillbirth, where there was a maternal condition associated with perinatal death, maternal medical and surgical conditions and maternal complications during pregnancy were most common. Of all the stillbirths, 51.2% occurred between 28 and 37 weeks of gestation, the main causes of stillbirth at different gestational ages also differed. Autopsy and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) were recommended in all stillbirths, but only 3.6% received autopsy and 10.5% underwent chromosomal microarray analysis. CONCLUSIONS The ICD-10 is helpful in classifying the causes of stillbirths, but more than half of the stillbirths in our study were unexplained; therefore, additional work must be done. And the ICD-10 score may need to be improved, such as by classifying stillbirths according to gestational age. Autopsy and CMA could help determine the cause of stillbirth, but the acceptance of these methods is currently low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-Shou Feng
- Obstetrical department, Changzhou Women and Children Health Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Shu-Fen Li
- Obstetrical department, Changzhou Women and Children Health Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui-Hui Ju
- Obstetrical department, Changzhou Women and Children Health Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Muwema M, Nankabirwa JI, Edwards G, Nalwadda G, Nangendo J, Okiring J, Obeng-Amoako GO, Mwanja W, Ekong EN, Kalyango JN, Kaye DK. Perinatal care and its association with perinatal death among women attending care in three district hospitals of western Uganda. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:113. [PMID: 38321398 PMCID: PMC10845583 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06305-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Provision of effective care to all women and newborns during the perinatal period is a viable strategy for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. This study examined perinatal care (antenatal, intrapartum, postpartum) and its association with perinatal deaths at three district hospitals in Bunyoro region, Uganda. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in which a questionnaire was administered consecutively to 872 postpartum women before discharge who had attended antenatal care and given birth in the study hospitals. Data on care received during antenatal, labour, delivery, and postpartum period, and perinatal outcome were extracted from medical records of the enrolled postnatal women using a pre-tested structured tool. The care received from antenatal to 24 h postpartum period was assessed against the standard protocol of care established by World Health Organization (WHO). Poisson regression was used to assess the association between care received and perinatal death. RESULTS The mean age of the women was 25 years (standard deviation [SD] 5.95). Few women had their blood tested for hemoglobin levels, HIV, and Syphilis (n = 53, 6.1%); had their urine tested for glucose and proteins (n = 27, 3.1%); undertook an ultrasound scan (n = 262, 30%); and had their maternal status assessed (n = 122, 14%) during antenatal care as well as had their uterus assessed for contraction and bleeding during postpartum care (n = 63, 7.2%). There were 19 perinatal deaths, giving a perinatal mortality rate of 22/1,000 births (95% Confidence interval [CI] 8.1-35.5). Of these 9 (47.4%) were stillbirths while the remaining 10 (52.6%) were early neonatal deaths. In the antenatal phase, only fetal examination was significantly associated with perinatal death (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 0.22, 95% CI 0.1-0.6). No significant association was found between perinatal deaths and care during labour, delivery, and the early postpartum period. CONCLUSION Women did not receive all the required perinatal care during the perinatal period. Perinatal mortality rate in Bunyoro region remains high, although it's lower than the national average. The study shows a reduction in the proportion of perinatal deaths for pregnancies where the mother received fetal monitoring. Strategies focused on strengthened fetal status monitoring such as fetal movement counting methods and fetal heart rate monitoring devices during pregnancy need to be devised to reduce the incidence of perinatal deaths. Findings from the study provide valuable information that would support the strengthening of perinatal care services for improved perinatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercy Muwema
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Joaniter I Nankabirwa
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Grace Edwards
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Gorrette Nalwadda
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joanita Nangendo
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jaffer Okiring
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Gloria Odei Obeng-Amoako
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - Elizabeth N Ekong
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda
| | - Joan N Kalyango
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dan K Kaye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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12
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Sequeira Dmello B, John TW, Housseine N, Meyrowitsch DW, van Roosmalen J, van den Akker T, Kujabi ML, Festo C, Nkungu D, Muniro Z, Kabanda I, Msumi R, Maembe L, Sangalala M, Hyera E, Lema J, Bayongo S, Mshiu J, Kidanto HL, Maaløe N. Incidence and determinants of perinatal mortality in five urban hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a cohort study with an embedded case-control analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:62. [PMID: 38218766 PMCID: PMC10787400 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-06096-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tanzania has one of the highest burdens of perinatal mortality, with a higher risk among urban versus rural women. To understand the characteristics of perinatal mortality in urban health facilities, study objectives were: I. To assess the incidence of perinatal deaths in public health facilities in Dar es Salaam and classify these into a) pre-facility stillbirths (absence of fetal heart tones on admission to the study health facilities) and b) intra-facility perinatal deaths before discharge; and II. To identify determinants of perinatal deaths by comparing each of the two groups of perinatal deaths with healthy newborns. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study among women who gave birth in five urban, public health facilities in Dar es Salaam. I. Incidence of perinatal death in the year 2020 was calculated based on routinely collected health facility records and the Perinatal Problem Identification Database. II. An embedded case-control study was conducted within a sub-population of singletons with birthweight ≥ 2000 g (excluding newborns with congenital malformations); pre-facility stillbirths and intra-facility perinatal deaths were compared with 'healthy newborns' (Apgar score ≥ 8 at one and ≥ 9 at five minutes and discharged home alive). Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the determinants of deaths. RESULTS A total of 37,787 births were recorded in 2020. The pre-discharge perinatal death rate was 38.3 per 1,000 total births: a stillbirth rate of 27.7 per 1,000 total births and an intra-facility neonatal death rate of 10.9 per 1,000 live births. Pre-facility stillbirths accounted for 88.4% of the stillbirths. The case-control study included 2,224 women (452 pre-facility stillbirths; 287 intra-facility perinatal deaths and 1,485 controls), 99% of whom attended antenatal clinic (75% with more than three visits). Pre-facility stillbirths were associated with low birth weight (cOR 4.40; (95% CI: 3.13-6.18) and with maternal hypertension (cOR 4.72; 95% CI: 3.30-6.76). Intra-facility perinatal deaths were associated with breech presentation (aOR 40.3; 95% CI: 8.75-185.61), complications in the second stage (aOR 20.04; 95% CI: 12.02-33.41), low birth weight (aOR 5.57; 95% CI: 2.62-11.84), cervical dilation crossing the partograph's action line (aOR 4.16; 95% CI:2.29-7.56), and hypertension during intrapartum care (aOR 2.9; 95% CI 1.03-8.14), among other factors. CONCLUSION: The perinatal death rate in the five urban hospitals was linked to gaps in the quality of antenatal and intrapartum care, in the study health facilities and in lower-level referral clinics. Urgent action is required to implement context-specific interventions and conduct implementation research to strengthen the urban referral system across the entire continuum of care from pregnancy onset to postpartum. The role of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy as a crucial determinant of perinatal deaths emphasizes the complexities of maternal-perinatal health within urban settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Sequeira Dmello
- Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT), P. O Box 23310, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Medical College, East Africa, Aga Khan University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Thomas Wiswa John
- Medical College, East Africa, Aga Khan University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Natasha Housseine
- Medical College, East Africa, Aga Khan University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dan Wolf Meyrowitsch
- Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jos van Roosmalen
- Athena Institute, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas van den Akker
- Athena Institute, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Monica Lauridsen Kujabi
- Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Daniel Nkungu
- Regional Referral Hospital Dar Es Salaam, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Zainab Muniro
- Regional Referral Hospital Dar Es Salaam, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Idrissa Kabanda
- Presidents Office, Regional and Local Government, Municipal Maternity Hospitals Ubungo and Temeke, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rukia Msumi
- Presidents Office, Regional and Local Government, Municipal Maternity Hospitals Ubungo and Temeke, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Luzango Maembe
- Regional Referral Hospital Dar Es Salaam, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Mtingele Sangalala
- Regional Referral Hospital Dar Es Salaam, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ester Hyera
- Regional Referral Hospital Dar Es Salaam, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Joyce Lema
- Presidents Office, Regional and Local Government, Municipal Maternity Hospitals Ubungo and Temeke, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Scolastica Bayongo
- Regional Referral Hospital Dar Es Salaam, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Johnson Mshiu
- Muhimbili Medical Research Center, National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Nanna Maaløe
- Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
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Mukherjee A, Di Stefano L, Blencowe H, Mee P. Determinants of stillbirths in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. BJOG 2024; 131:140-150. [PMID: 37272228 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have high stillbirth rates compared with high-income countries, yet research on risk factors for stillbirth in SSA remain scant. OBJECTIVES To identify the modifiable risk factors of stillbirths in SSA and investigate their strength of association using a systematic review. SEARCH STRATEGY CINAHL Plus, EMBASE, Global Health and MEDLINE databases were searched for literature. SELECTION CRITERIA Observational population- and facility-level studies exploring stillbirth risk factors, published in 2013-2019 were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS A narrative synthesis of data was undertaken and the potential risk factors were classified into subgroups. MAIN RESULTS Thirty-seven studies were included, encompassing 20 264 stillbirths. The risk factors were categorised as: maternal antepartum factors (0-4 antenatal care visits, multiple gestations, hypertension, birth interval of >3 years, history of perinatal death); socio-economic factors (maternal lower wealth index and basic education, advanced maternal age, grand multiparity of ≥5); intrapartum factors (direct obstetric complication); fetal factors (low birthweight and gestational age of <37 weeks) and health systems factors (poor quality of antenatal care, emergency referrals, ill-equipped facility). The proportion of unexplained stillbirths remained very high. No association was found between stillbirths and body mass index, diabetes, distance from the facility or HIV. CONCLUSIONS The overall quality of evidence was low, as many studies were facility based and did not adjust for confounding factors. This review identified preventable risk factors for stillbirth. Focused programmatic strategies to improve antenatal care, emergency obstetric care, maternal perinatal education, referral and outreach systems, and birth attendant training should be developed. More population-based, high-quality research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Mukherjee
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Research, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Hannah Blencowe
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Paul Mee
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Lincoln International Institute for Rural Health, College of Social Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
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de Mucio B, Sosa C, Colomar M, Mainero L, Cruz CM, Chévez LM, Lopez R, Carrillo G, Rizo U, Saint Hillaire EE, Arriaga WE, Guadalupe Flores RM, Ochoa C, Gonzalez F, Castro R, Stefan A, Moreno A, Metelus S, Souza RT, Costa ML, Luz AG, Sousa MH, Cecatti JG, Serruya SJ. The burden of stillbirths in low resource settings in Latin America: Evidence from a network using an electronic surveillance system. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0296002. [PMID: 38134193 PMCID: PMC10745214 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine stillbirth ratio and its association with maternal, perinatal, and delivery characteristics, as well as geographic differences in Latin American countries (LAC). METHODS We analysed data from the Perinatal Information System of the Latin American Center for Perinatology and Human Development (CLAP) between January 2018 and June 2021 in 8 health facilities from five LAC countries (Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic). Maternal, pregnancy, and delivery characteristics, in addition to pregnancy outcomes were reported. Estimates of association were tested using chi-square tests, and P < 0.05 was regarded as significant. Bivariate analysis was conducted to estimate stillbirth risk. Prevalence ratios (PR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each predictor were reported. RESULTS In total, 101,852 childbirths comprised the SIP database. For this analysis, we included 99,712 childbirths. There were 762 stillbirths during the study period; the Stillbirth ratio of 7.7/1,000 live births (ranged from 3.8 to 18.2/1,000 live births across the different maternities); 586 (76.9%) were antepartum stillbirths, 150 (19.7%) were intrapartum stillbirths and 26 (3.4%) with an ignored time of death. Stillbirth was significantly associated with women with diabetes (PRadj 2.36; 95%CI [1.25-4.46]), preeclampsia (PRadj 2.01; 95%CI [1.26-3.19]), maternal age (PRadj 1.04; 95%CI [1.02-1.05]), any medical condition (PRadj 1.48; 95%CI [1.24-1.76, and severe maternal outcome (PRadj 3.27; 95%CI [3.27-11.66]). CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy complications and maternal morbidity were significantly associated with stillbirths. The stillbirth ratios varied across the maternity hospitals, which highlights the importance for individual surveillance. Specialized antenatal and intrapartum care remains a priority, particularly for women who are at a higher risk of stillbirth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bremen de Mucio
- Latin American Center of Perinatology (CLAP-PAHO), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Claudio Sosa
- Latin American Center of Perinatology (CLAP-PAHO), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mercedes Colomar
- Latin American Center of Perinatology (CLAP-PAHO), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Luis Mainero
- Latin American Center of Perinatology (CLAP-PAHO), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | | | - Rita Lopez
- Hospital Berta Calderon Roque, Managua, Nicaragua
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Allan Stefan
- Hospital Leonardo Martinez Valenzuela, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
| | | | - Sherly Metelus
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Renato T. Souza
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Maria L. Costa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Adriana G. Luz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - José G. Cecatti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
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15
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Menashe-Oren A, Stecklov G. Age-specific sex ratios: Examining rural-urban variation within low- and middle-income countries. POPULATION STUDIES 2023; 77:539-558. [PMID: 37594443 DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2023.2233964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
The balance of men and women in society, captured by sex ratios, determines key social and demographic phenomena. Previous research has explored sex ratios mainly at birth and up to age five at national level, whereas we address rural-urban gaps in sex ratios for all ages. Our measures are based on the United Nations data on rural and urban populations by age and sex for 112 low- and middle-income countries in 2015. We show that rural sex ratios are higher than urban sex ratios among children and older people, whereas at working ages, urban areas are dominated by males. Our analysis suggests that the urban transition itself is not driving the gap in rural-urban sex ratios. Rather, internal migration seems to be key in shaping rural-urban sex ratio divergence in sub-Saharan Africa, while both internal migration and mortality differentials appear to be the predominant mechanisms driving sex ratio gaps in Latin America.
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Guarnizo-Herreño CC, Buitrago G, Wehby GL. Changes in birth outcomes and utilization of prenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: a secondary analysis of vital statistics in Colombia. BMC Pediatr 2023; 23:234. [PMID: 37173676 PMCID: PMC10175897 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04027-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birth outcomes could have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through changes in access to prenatal services and other pathways. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on fetal death, birth weight, gestational age, number of prenatal visits, and caesarean delivery in 2020 in Colombia. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of data on 3,140,010 pregnancies and 2,993,534 live births from population-based birth certificate and fetal death certificate records in Colombia between 2016 and 2020. Outcomes were compared separately for each month during 2020 with the same month in 2019 and pre-pandemic trends were examined in regression models controlling for maternal age, educational level, marital status, type of health insurance, place of residence (urban/rural), municipality of birth, and the number of pregnancies the mother has had before last pregnancy. RESULTS We found some evidence for a decline in miscarriage risk in some months after the pandemic start, while there was an apparent lagging increase in stillbirth risk, although not statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Birth weight increased during the onset of the pandemic, a change that does not appear to be driven by pre-pandemic trends. Specifically, mean birth weight was higher in 2020 than 2019 for births in April through December by about 12 to 21 g (p < 0.01). There was also a lower risk of gestational age at/below 37 weeks in 2020 for two months following the pandemic (April, June), but a higher risk in October. Finally, there was a decline in prenatal visits in 2020 especially in June-October, but no evidence of a change in C-section delivery. CONCLUSIONS The study findings suggest mixed early effects of the pandemic on perinatal outcomes and prenatal care utilization in Colombia. While there was a significant decline in prenatal visits, other factors may have had counter effects on perinatal health including an increase in birth weight on average.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giancarlo Buitrago
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- Hospital Universitario Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - George L Wehby
- Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA
- National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Boo YY, Gwacham-Anisiobi U, Thakrar DB, Roberts N, Kurinczuk JJ, Lakhanpaul M, Nair M. Facility-based stillbirth review processes used in different countries across the world: a systematic review. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 59:101976. [PMID: 37180470 PMCID: PMC10173150 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Facility-based stillbirth review provides opportunities to estimate incidence, evaluate causes and risk factors for stillbirths, and identify any issues related to the quality of pregnancy and childbirth care which require improvement. Our aim was to systematically review all types and methods of facility-based stillbirth review processes used in different countries across the world, to examine how stillbirth reviews in facility settings are being conducted worldwide and to identify the outcomes of implementing the reviews. Moreover, to identify facilitators and barriers influencing the implementation of the identified facility-based stillbirth reviews processes by conducting subgroup analyses. Methods A systematic review of published literature was conducted by searching MEDLINE (OvidSP) [1946-present], EMBASE (OvidSP) [1974-present], WHO Global Index Medicus (globalindexmedicus.net), Global Health (OvidSP) [1973-2022 Week 8] and CINAHL (EBSCOHost) [1982-present] from their inception until 11 January, 2023. For unpublished or grey literature, the WHO databases, Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global were searched, as well as hand searching the reference lists of included studies. MESH terms encompassing "∗Clinical Audit", "∗Perinatal Mortality", "Pregnancy Complications", and "Stillbirth" were used with Boolean operators. Studies that used a facility-based review process or any approach to evaluate care prior to stillbirth, and explained the methods used were included. Reviews and editorials were excluded. Three authors (YYB, UGA, and DBT) independently screened and extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using an adapted JBI's Checklist for Case Series. A logic model was used to inform the narrative synthesis. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022304239. Findings A total of 68 studies from 17 high-income (HICs) and 22 low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) met the inclusion criteria from a total of 7258 identified records. These were stillbirth reviews conducted at different levels: district, state, national, and international. Three types were identified: audit, review, and confidential enquiry, but not all desired components were included in most processes, which led to a mismatch between the description of the type and the actual method used. Routine data from hospital records was the most common data source for identifying stillbirths, and case assessment was based on stillbirth definition in 48 out of 68 studies. Hospital notes were the most common source of information about care received and causes/risk factors for stillbirth. Short-term and medium-term outcomes were reported in 14 studies, but impact of the review process on reducing stillbirth, which is more difficult to establish, was not reported in any study. Facilitators and barriers in implementing a successful stillbirth review process identified from 14 studies focused on three main themes: resources, expertise, and commitment. Interpretation This systematic review's findings identified that there is a need for clear guidelines on how to measure the impact of implementation of changes based on outputs of stillbirth reviews and methods to enable effective dissemination of learning points in the future and promoting them through training platforms. In addition, there is a need to develop and adopt a universal definition of stillbirth to facilitate meaningful comparison of stillbirth rates between regions. The key limitation of this review is that while using a logic model for narrative synthesis was deemed most appropriate for this study, sequence of implementing a stillbirth review in the real world is not linear, and assumptions are often not met. Therefore, the logic model proposed in this study should be interpreted with flexibility when designing a stillbirth review process. The generated learnings from the stillbirth review processes inform the action plans and allow facilities to consider where the changes should happen to improve the quality of care in the facilities, enabling positive short-term and medium-term outcomes. Funding Kellogg College, University of Oxford, Clarendon Fund, University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford and Medical Research Council (MRC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yebeen Ysabelle Boo
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Uchenna Gwacham-Anisiobi
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Dixa B. Thakrar
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nia Roberts
- Bodleian Health Care Libraries, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer J. Kurinczuk
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Monica Lakhanpaul
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Manisha Nair
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Symonds NE, Vidler M, Wiens MO, Omar S, English LL, Ukah UV, Ansermino JM, Ngonzi J, Bebell LM, Hwang B, Christoffersen-Deb A, Kissoon N, Payne BA. Risk factors for postpartum maternal mortality and hospital readmission in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:303. [PMID: 37120529 PMCID: PMC10148415 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05459-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In low- and middle-income countries, approximately two thirds of maternal deaths occur in the postpartum period. Yet, care for women beyond 24 h after discharge is limited. The objective of this systematic review is to summarize current evidence on socio-demographic and clinical risk factors for (1) postpartum mortality and (2) postpartum hospital readmission. METHODS A combination of keywords and subject headings (i.e. MeSH terms) for postpartum maternal mortality or readmission were searched. Articles published up to January 9, 2021 were identified in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases, without language restrictions. Studies reporting socio-demographic or clinical risk factors for postpartum mortality or readmission within six weeks of delivery among women who delivered a livebirth in a low- or middle-income country were included. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers based on study characteristics, population, and outcomes. Included studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias using the Downs and Black checklist for ratings of randomized and non-randomized studies. RESULTS Of 8783 abstracts screened, seven studies were included (total N = 387,786). Risk factors for postpartum mortality included Caesarean mode of delivery, nulliparity, low or very low birthweight, and shock upon admission. Risk factors for postpartum readmission included Caesarean mode of delivery, HIV positive serostatus, and abnormal body temperature. CONCLUSIONS Few studies reported individual socio-demographic or clinical risk factors for mortality or readmission after delivery in low- and middle-income countries; only Caesarean delivery was consistently reported. Further research is needed to identify factors that put women at greatest risk of post-discharge complications and mortality. Understanding post-discharge risk would facilitate targeted postpartum care and reduce adverse outcomes in women after delivery. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018103955.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola E Symonds
- The Centre for International Child Health, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Marianne Vidler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Rm V3-339, 950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Matthew O Wiens
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- Walimu, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Shazmeen Omar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Rm V3-339, 950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - L Lacey English
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - U Vivian Ukah
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - J Mark Ansermino
- The Centre for International Child Health, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Joseph Ngonzi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Lisa M Bebell
- Infectious Diseases Division, and Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bella Hwang
- The Centre for International Child Health, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Astrid Christoffersen-Deb
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Rm V3-339, 950 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Niranjan Kissoon
- The Centre for International Child Health, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Beth A Payne
- School of Public and Population Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Skytte TB, Holm-Hansen CC, Ali SM, Ame S, Molenaar J, Greisen G, Poulsen A, Sorensen JL, Lund S. Risk factors of stillbirths in four district hospitals on Pemba Island, Tanzania: a prospective cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:288. [PMID: 37101264 PMCID: PMC10131471 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05613-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND More than 2 million third-trimester stillbirths occur yearly, most of them in low- and middle-income countries. Data on stillbirths in these countries are rarely collected systematically. This study investigated the stillbirth rate and risk factors associated with stillbirth in four district hospitals in Pemba Island, Tanzania. METHODS A prospective cohort study was completed between the 13th of September and the 29th of November 2019. All singleton births were eligible for inclusion. Events and history during pregnancy and indicators for adherence to guidelines were analysed in a logistic regression model that identified odds ratios [OR] with a 95% confidence interval [95% CI]. RESULTS A stillbirth rate of 22 per 1000 total births in the cohort was identified; 35.5% were intrapartum stillbirths (total number of stillbirths in the cohort, n = 31). Risk factors for stillbirth were breech or cephalic malpresentation (OR 17.67, CI 7.5-41.64), decreased or no foetal movements (OR 2.6, CI 1.13-5.98), caesarean section [CS] (OR 5.19, CI 2.32-11.62), previous CS (OR 2.63, CI 1.05-6.59), preeclampsia (OR 21.54, CI 5.28-87.8), premature rupture of membranes or rupture of membranes 18 h before birth (OR 2.5, CI 1.06-5.94) and meconium stained amniotic fluid (OR 12.03, CI 5.23-27.67). Blood pressure was not routinely measured, and 25% of women with stillbirths with no registered foetal heart rate [FHR] at admission underwent CS. CONCLUSIONS The stillbirth rate in this cohort was 22 per 1000 total births and did not fulfil the Every Newborn Action Plan's goal of 12 stillbirths per 1000 total births in 2030. Awareness of risk factors associated with stillbirth, preventive interventions and improved adherence to clinical guidelines during labour, and hence improved quality of care, are needed to decrease the stillbirth rate in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tine Bruhn Skytte
- Global Health Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Charlotte Carina Holm-Hansen
- Global Health Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Shaali Ame
- Public Health Laboratory, Ivo de Carneri, Pemba, Tanzania
| | - Jil Molenaar
- Reproductive and Maternal Health Research Group, Public Health Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Family Medicine and Population Health (FAMPOP), Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gorm Greisen
- Department of Neonatology, Juliane Marie Center, University Hospital Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anja Poulsen
- Global Health Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jette Led Sorensen
- Juliane Marie Centre for Children, Women and Reproduction, University Hospital Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine Lund
- Global Health Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neonatology, Juliane Marie Center, University Hospital Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Torre Monmany N, Astete JA, Ramaiah D, Suchitra J, Krauel X, Fillol M, Balasubbaiah Y, Alarcón A, Bassat Q. Extended Perinatal Mortality Audit in a Rural Hospital in India. Am J Perinatol 2023; 40:375-386. [PMID: 33902133 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1727220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to describe the status of perinatal mortality (PM) in an Indian rural hospital. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of data was compiled from PM meetings (April 2017 to December 2018) following "Making Every Baby Count: audit and review of stillbirths and neonatal deaths (ENAP or Every Newborn Action Plan)." RESULTS The study includes 8,801 livebirths, 105 stillbirths (SBs); 74 antepartum stillbirths [ASBs], 22 intrapartum stillbirths [ISBs], and nine unknown timing stillbirths [USBs]), 39 neonatal deaths or NDs (perinatal death or PDs 144). The higher risks for ASBs were maternal age >34 years, previous history of death, and/or SBs. Almost half of the PDs could be related with antepartum complications. More than half of the ASB were related with preeclampsia/eclampsia and abruptio placentae; one-third of the ISB were related with preeclampsia/eclampsia and gestational hypertension, fetal growth restriction, and placental dysfunction. The main maternal conditions differed between PDs (p = 0.005). The main causes of the ND were infections, congenital malformations, complications of prematurity, intrapartum complications, and unknown. The stillbirth rate was 11.8/1,000 births, neonatal mortality rate 4.4/1,000 livebirths, and perinatal mortality rate 15.8/1,000 births. CONCLUSION This is the first study of its kind in Andhra Pradesh being the first step for the analysis and prevention of PM. KEY POINTS · Many conditions that lead to stillbirths are linked to neonatal deaths and PM has been outside of the global parameters from the last decades.. · This is the first study following International Classification of Disease perinatal mortality codes and the audit of ENAP in Andhra Pradesh.. · Extended PM and mortality are mainly caused by similar preventable and treatable conditions..
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Torre Monmany
- Department of Paediatrics, Rural Development Trust Children's Hospital, Bathalapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Department of Paediatric Emergency Transport, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquín Américo Astete
- Department of Paediatrics, Rural Development Trust Children's Hospital, Bathalapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Department of Paediatrics, Pediatria dels pirineus, la Seu d'Urgell, Spain
| | - Dasarath Ramaiah
- Department of Paediatrics, Rural Development Trust Children's Hospital, Bathalapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Jyothi Suchitra
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rural Development Trust Children's Hospital, Bathalapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Xavier Krauel
- Department of Paediatrics, Rural Development Trust Children's Hospital, Bathalapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Department of Neonatology, Sant Joan de déu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manolo Fillol
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rural Development Trust Children's Hospital, Bathalapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Department of Gynecology, Hospital de la plana, Castellón, Spain
| | - Yadamala Balasubbaiah
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rural Development Trust Children's Hospital, Bathalapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Ana Alarcón
- Department of Neonatology, Sant Joan de déu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Icrea, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Meredith M, Véronique L, Gabriel C, Olivier P, Carod JF, Léo P, Nacher M, Najeh H. INCIDENCE, CAUSES, AND RISK FACTORS OF STILLBIRTH IN AN AMAZONIAN CONTEXT: SAINT LAURENT DU MARONI MATERNITY WARD 2016-2021. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X 2023; 18:100190. [PMID: 37095766 PMCID: PMC10121620 DOI: 10.1016/j.eurox.2023.100190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective We aimed to describe the epidemiology of intrauterine fetal deaths in multiethnic western French Guiana and to assess its main causes and risk factors. Study design A retrospective descriptive study was conducted based on data from January 2016 to December 2021. All information on stillbirth with a gestational age ≥20 weeks in the Western French Guiana Hospital Center was extracted. Terminations of pregnancy were excluded. We focused on medical history, clinical investigation, biological findings, placental histology, and autopsy examination to elucidate the cause of death. We used the Initial Cause of Fetal Death (INCODE) classification system for assessment. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Overall, 331 fetuses in 318 stillbirth deliveries were reviewed and compared to live births that occurred during the same period. The rate of fetal death varied between 1.3 % and 2.1 %, with an average of 1.8 % over the 6-year period. Poor antenatal care (104/318, 32.7 %), obesity ≥30 kg/m2 (88/318, 31.7 %), and preeclampsia (59/318, 18.5 %) were the main risk factors associated with fetal death in this group. Four hypertensive crises were reported. According to the INCODE classification, the main causes of fetal death were obstetric complications (112/331, 33.8 %), particularly intrapartum fetal death with labor-associated asphyxia under 26 weeks (64/112, 57.1 %), and placental abruption (29/112, 25.9 %). Maternal-fetal infections were common, particularly mosquito-borne diseases (e.g., Zika virus, dengue, and malaria), re-emerging infectious agents such as syphilis, and severe maternal infections (8/331, 2.4 %). 19.3 % of fetal deaths (64/331) remained unexplained. Conclusion Change in lifestyle as well as social deprivation and isolation adversely affect pregnancy in western French Guiana, in the context of a poor health care system that is similar to what is found in the Amazonian basin. Particular attention must be paid to emerging infectious agents in pregnant women and travelers returning from the Amazon region.
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Gudayu TW. Epidemiology of neonatal mortality: a spatial and multilevel analysis of the 2019 mini-Ethiopian demographic and health survey data. BMC Pediatr 2023; 23:26. [PMID: 36647037 PMCID: PMC9843859 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-03838-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sub-Saharan African countries are a high-burden region of neonatal mortality and showed slow progress in its reduction. In developing countries, as long as the current trend of mortality persists, achieving a sustainable development target for neonatal mortality would be challenging. The aim of this study was to detect significant geographic areas and identify community and individual-level predictors of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia to draw attention to a policy. METHODS A weighted total sample of 24,136 mothers from the 2019 mini-Ethiopian demographic and health survey data were included in the analysis. Global Moran's I statistics was run to check the clustering of neonatal mortality and then kriging interpolation was done to predict the magnitude of neonatal mortality in Ethiopia. In addition, SaTScan analysis was also executed to identify hot spot clusters of neonatal mortality. Finally, a multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model was used to identify community and individual-level predictors of early neonatal and neonatal mortality. RESULTS The lifetime early neonatal and neonatal mortality among mothers in Ethiopia was 5.08 (95% CI: 4.13-6.03) and 6.54 (5.55, 7.52) per 1000 births respectively. Neonatal mortality was spatially clustered in the country and the SaTScan analysis identified significant hotspot areas of neonatal mortality in the Amhara and Afar regions and some areas of the Somali and Oromia regions. Its predicted magnitude was > 8 per 1000 births in wide areas of the Amhara and Benishangul regions. A multilevel mixed-effect logistics regression analysis identified that a lower level of maternal education, being a twin neonate, and being a male neonate were predictors of both early neonatal and neonatal mortality. Whereas, the younger age of mothers predicted neonatal mortality. CONCLUSIONS Neonatal mortality in Ethiopia is geographically clustered and sociodemographic and obstetric factors played a significant role. Policy direction should focus on evidence-based practices like midwives-led community and facility-based continuum of care from preconception to postnatal periods to possibly reduce neonatal mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temesgen Worku Gudayu
- grid.59547.3a0000 0000 8539 4635Department of Clinical Midwifery, School of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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23
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Pons A, Leiva JL, M. ALP. Muerte fetal: avances en el estudio diagnóstico. REVISTA MÉDICA CLÍNICA LAS CONDES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rmclc.2023.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
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Berhe T, Modibia LM, Sahile AT, Tedla GW. Does quality of antenatal care influence antepartum stillbirth in Hossana City, South Ethiopia? PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001468. [PMID: 36963030 PMCID: PMC10021135 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antepartum stillbirth is a public health problem in a low-income country like Ethiopia. Quality antenatal care (ANC) is supposed to reduce the risk of many bad outcomes. Thus the main objective of this study was to identify the effect of quality antenatal care on antepartum stillbirth in Public health facilities of Hossana town Hadiya zone south Ethiopia. METHOD About 1123 mothers with a gestational age of less than 16 weeks were identified and followed using an observational longitudinal study to determine whether the quality of ANC influences antepartum stillbirth or not. Standardized and pretested observation checklists and participants' interview questionnaires were employed to obtain the necessary information after getting both written and verbal consent from the concerned bodies and study participants. In this study, quality was measured by the process attributes of quality to measure the acceptable standard of quality of antenatal care. Women who received ≥75% of essential ANC services (from 1st-4th visit) were categorized under received good quality antenatal care. General estimating equation analysis was done to determine the effect of quality antenatal care on antepartum stillbirth. RESULT A total of 121 (12.3%) 95% CI (10.3%, 14.5%) mothers who were observed during delivery had encountered antepartum stillbirth. In this study, the overall quality of antenatal care service that was provided in the whole visit (1st -4th) was 1230 (31.38%). Higher quality ANC decreases the odds of antepartum stillbirth by almost 81%, after controlling other factors (0.19 (AOR 0.19 at 95% CI; 0.088 to 0.435). There is a change in the odds of developing antepartum stillbirth as the level of education of mothers increases. Moreover, mothers with a history of preexisting hypertension were more like to have antepartum stillbirth AOR = 3.1, 95%CI (1.44, 6.77)]. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Therefore, having a good quality of ANC significantly reduces antepartum stillbirth. Strategies need to be developed on the problems identified to improve the quality of ANC and reduce antepartum stillbirth significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- TrhasTadesse Berhe
- Yekatit 12 Hospitals, Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lebitsi Maud Modibia
- The University of South Africa, Department of Health Studies College of Human Sciences, Pretoria, South Africa
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Li Z, Kong Y, Chen S, Subramanian M, Lu C, Kim R, Wehrmeister FC, Song Y, Subramanian S. Independent and cumulative effects of risk factors associated with stillbirths in 50 low- and middle-income countries: A multi-country cross-sectional study. EClinicalMedicine 2022; 54:101706. [PMID: 36353264 PMCID: PMC9637680 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early identification of high-risk pregnancies could reduce stillbirths, yet remains a challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to estimate the associations between easily observable risk factors and stillbirths, and construct a risk score which could be adopted in LMICs to identify pregnancies with high risk of stillbirths. METHODS Using the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys from 50 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with available data between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2021, we analysed a total of 22 factors associated with stillbirths in a series of single-adjusted and mutually adjusted logistic regression models. Upon identification of the risk factors with the strongest associations, we constructed a risk score on the basis of the magnitude of the β coefficient to examine the cumulative effects of risk factors on stillbirths. To assess whether the associations between risk scores and stillbirths were moderated by protective factors, we added an interaction term between the identified protective factor and risk scores to the regression model. We also conducted two sets of subgroup analyses for previous history of pregnancy and maternal age at pregnancy and four sets of supplementary analyses to test the robustness of the results. FINDINGS Among the 795,642 women identified for analysis with at least one pregnancy within the five years before the survey, the most recent pregnancy of 8968 (1.13%) ended as stillbirths. Using a mutually adjusted regression model, we found that the top factors showing the strongest associations with stillbirths were short maternal height (odds ratio [OR]: 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48-2.67, P < 0.001), interpregnancy interval less than six months (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.42-2.38, P < 0.001), previous stillbirth history (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.07-2.26, P < 0.020), low maternal education (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.01-2.24, P = 0.045), and lowest household wealth (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08-1.61, P = 0.008). A female household head was a protective factor with an OR of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.55-0.90, P = 0.005). Single-adjusted models, subgroup analyses, and sensitivity analyses showed generally consistent results. We also found that the odds of stillbirths increased with a larger risk score with a P trend <0.001. Compared with women without any risk factors, women with a risk score of 5 or more were 4.11 (95% CI: 2.83-5.97, P < 0.001) times more likely to have their pregnancies ending up as stillbirths. However, these associations were weakened if the head of household was female. INTERPRETATION Our study suggested that short maternal height, low socioeconomic status, previous stillbirth history, low maternal education, and very short interpregnancy interval had the strongest associations with stillbirths. The construction of risk scores using easily observable risk factors could be an effective way to identify high-risk pregnancies in resource-poor settings. FUNDING This research was supported by Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen (NO. SZSM202111001) and China National Natural Science Foundation (NO. 72203119).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Li
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
- Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
- Corresponding author. Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
| | - Yuhao Kong
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoru Chen
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | | | - Chunling Lu
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rockli Kim
- Division of Health Policy and Management, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
- Harvard Center for Population & Development Studies, Cambridge, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Fernando C. Wehrmeister
- Department of Epidemiology, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
- Institute for Global Public Health, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Yi Song
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
- Corresponding author. Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - S.V. Subramanian
- Harvard Center for Population & Development Studies, Cambridge, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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Amani A, Nansseu JR, Ndeffo GF, Njoh AA, Cheuyem FZL, Libite PR, Ateba AA, Ngo Bama S, Baye ML, Nguefack-Tsague G, Enow Mbu R. Stillbirths in Cameroon: an analysis of the 1998-2011 demographic and health surveys. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:736. [PMID: 36183095 PMCID: PMC9526320 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04993-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many countries, including Cameroon, have found it challenging to estimate stillbirths, as there are limited available reports accurately. This analysis aimed to assess stillbirth rates and identify risk factors for stillbirth in Cameroon using successive Demographic and Health Survey data. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data collected during the Demographic and Health Surveys of 1998, 2004, and 2011. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with stillbirth through odds ratios (ORs) at 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results were considered statistically significant at p-value less than 0.05. Results The crude stillbirth rate was 21.4 per 1,000 births in 2004 and 24 per 1,000 births in 2011, with respective standard errors of 1.8 and 1.3. The stillbirth rate increased with the mother's age (p < 0.001). The stillbirth rate reduction was prolonged between 1998 and 2011, with an annual reduction rate of 1.6%. The study observed that residing in rural areas, low socioeconomic status, and low level of education were risk factors associated with stillbirths. Conclusion Cameroon's stillbirth rate remains very high, with a slow reduction rate over the last 20 years. Although some efforts are ongoing, there is still a long way forward to bend the curve for stillbirths in Cameroon; supplementary strategies must be designed and implemented, especially among rural women, the poor, and the less educated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adidja Amani
- Department of Family Health, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon. .,Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
| | - Jobert Richie Nansseu
- Department of Disease, Epidemics and Pandemics Control, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon.,Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Guy Ferdinand Ndeffo
- Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, National Institute of Statistics, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Andreas Ateke Njoh
- Department of Family Health, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Fabrice Zobel Lekeumo Cheuyem
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Paul Roger Libite
- Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, National Institute of Statistics, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Athanase A Ateba
- Department of Disease, Epidemics and Pandemics Control, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | | | | | - Georges Nguefack-Tsague
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Robinson Enow Mbu
- Department of Family Health, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon.,, Yaounde, Cameroon
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Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) among Women with Macerated Stillbirth: A Cross-Sectional Hospital-Based Study from Mwanza, Tanzania. J Pregnancy 2022; 2022:2156835. [PMID: 36120505 PMCID: PMC9477628 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2156835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Stillbirth adversely affects pregnancy outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Viral infections have been implicated as one of the causes of stillbirths. Despite high rates of stillbirths and high viral prevalence in LMICs, there is limited information regarding their association. This study investigated the magnitude of herpes simplex 2 virus (HSV-2) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) among women with macerated stillbirth. Methods A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted involving 279 women with macerated stillbirth between July and August 2018 at different health facilities in Mwanza, Tanzania. Detection of HSV-2 was done by immunochromatographic test while that of HCMV was done using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Descriptive data analysis was done using STATA version 13. Results A total of 28 (10.04%, 95% CI: 6.8-13.9) tested positive for HSV-2 IgG antibodies with only 4 (1.43%, 95% CL: 0.3-2.8) testing positive for HSV-2 IgM antibodies. HCMV IgG antibodies were detected in 131 (77.98%, 95% CI: 71-84) of 168 women tested. By multivariate logistic regulation analysis, advanced age (OR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87-0.99, p = 0.025) was significantly associated with negative HSV-2 IgG antibodies. By log multinomial regression analysis, only urban residence (RRR.4.43: 95% CI 1.53-12.80, p = 0.006) independently predicted HCMV IgG seropositivity among women with stillbirth. Twenty-one (30.9%) of women with positive HCMV IgG antibodies had low avidity index (<40%) indicating recent infection. Conclusion Significant proportion of women with macerated stillbirth residing in urban and with low age have HCMV and HSV antibodies, respectively. This calls for the need to consider introducing screening of these infections in the Tanzanian antenatal package and further studies to explore the role of these viruses in causing stillbirth in Tanzania.
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Milton R, Modibbo F, Gillespie D, Alkali FI, Mukaddas AS, Kassim A, Sa'ad FH, Tukur FM, Khalid RY, Muhammad MY, Bello M, Edwin CP, Ogudo E, Iregbu KC, Jones L, Hood K, Ghazal P, Sanders J, Hassan B, Belga FJ, Walsh TR. Incidence and sociodemographic, living environment and maternal health associations with stillbirth in a tertiary healthcare setting in Kano, Northern Nigeria. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:692. [PMID: 36076161 PMCID: PMC9454147 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04971-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Almost two million stillbirths occur annually, most occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Nigeria is reported to have one of the highest stillbirth rates on the African continent. The aim was to identify sociodemographic, living environment, and health status factors associated with stillbirth and determine the associations between pregnancy and birth factors and stillbirth in the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. Methods A three-month single-site prospective observational feasibility study. Demographic and clinical data were collected. We fitted bivariable and multivariable models for stillbirth (yes/no) and three-category livebirth/macerated stillbirth/non-macerated stillbirth outcomes to explore their association with demographic and clinical factors. Findings 1,998 neonates and 1,926 mothers were enrolled. Higher odds of stillbirth were associated with low-levels of maternal education, a further distance to travel to the hospital, living in a shack, maternal hypertension, previous stillbirth, birthing complications, increased duration of labour, antepartum haemorrhage, prolonged or obstructed labour, vaginal breech delivery, emergency caesarean-section, and signs of trauma to the neonate following birth. Interpretation This work has obtained data on some factors influencing stillbirth. This in turn will facilitate the development of improved public health interventions to reduce preventable deaths and to progress maternal health within this site. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04971-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Milton
- Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| | - F Modibbo
- Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano, Nigeria
| | - D Gillespie
- Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - F I Alkali
- Department of Biochemistry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - A S Mukaddas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - A Kassim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - F H Sa'ad
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - F M Tukur
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
| | - R Y Khalid
- Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano, Nigeria
| | - M Y Muhammad
- Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano, Nigeria
| | - M Bello
- Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano, Nigeria
| | - C P Edwin
- Department of Microbiology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
| | - E Ogudo
- Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano, Nigeria
| | - K C Iregbu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, National Hospital Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - L Jones
- Department of Medical Microbiology Cardiff, Public Health Wales, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - K Hood
- Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - P Ghazal
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - J Sanders
- School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - B Hassan
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - F J Belga
- Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano, Nigeria
| | - T R Walsh
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.,Department of Zoology, Ineos Institute of Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Twesigomwe G, Migisha R, Agaba DC, Owaraganise A, Aheisibwe H, Tibaijuka L, Abesiga L, Ngonzi J, Tornes YF. Prevalence and associated factors of oligohydramnios in pregnancies beyond 36 weeks of gestation at a tertiary hospital in southwestern Uganda. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:610. [PMID: 35918640 PMCID: PMC9344782 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04939-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oligohydramnios is associated with poor maternal and perinatal outcomes. In low-resource countries, including Uganda, oligohydramnios is under-detected due to the scarcity of ultrasonographic services. We determined the prevalence and associated factors of oligohydramnios among women with pregnancies beyond 36 weeks of gestation at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in Southwestern Uganda. METHODS We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study from November 2019 to March 2020. Included were women at gestational age > 36 weeks. Excluded were women with ruptured membranes, those in active labour, and those with multiple pregnancies. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to capture demographic, obstetric, and clinical characteristics of the study participants. We determined oligohydramnios using an amniotic fluid index (AFI) obtained using an ultrasound scan. Oligohydramnios was diagnosed in participants with AFI ≤ 5 cm. We performed multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with oligohydramnios. RESULTS We enrolled 426 women with a mean age of 27 (SD ± 5.3) years. Of the 426 participants, 40 had oligohydramnios, for a prevalence of 9.4% (95%CI: 6.8-12.6%). Factors found to be significantly associated with oligohydramnios were history of malaria in pregnancy (aOR = 4.6; 95%CI: 1.5-14, P = 0.008), primegravidity (aOR = 3.7; 95%CI: 1.6-6.7, P = 0.002) and increasing gestational age; compared to women at 37-39 weeks, those at 40-41 weeks (aOR = 2.5; 95%CI: 1.1-5.6, P = 0.022), and those at > 41 weeks (aOR = 6.0; 95%CI: 2.3-16, P = 0.001) were more likely to have oligohydramnios. CONCLUSION Oligohydramnios was detected in approximately one out of every ten women seeking care at MRRH, and it was more common among primigravidae, those with a history of malaria in pregnancy, and those with post-term pregnancies. We recommend increased surveillance for oligohydramnios in the third trimester, especially among prime gravidas, those with history of malaria in pregnancy, and those with post-term pregnancies, in order to enable prompt detection of this complication and plan timely interventions. Future longitudinal studies are needed to assess clinical outcomes in women with oligohydramnios in our setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey Twesigomwe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
| | - Richard Migisha
- Department of Physiology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - David Collins Agaba
- Department of Physiology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Asiphas Owaraganise
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Hillary Aheisibwe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Leevan Tibaijuka
- Department of Physiology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Lenard Abesiga
- Department of Physiology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Joseph Ngonzi
- Department of Physiology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Yarine Fajardo Tornes
- Department of Physiology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
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Mohammed-Ahmed A, Abdullahi A, Beshir F. Magnitude and associated factors of stillbirth among women who gave birth at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, eastern Ethiopia. Eur J Midwifery 2022; 6:49. [PMID: 35974716 PMCID: PMC9340818 DOI: 10.18332/ejm/150354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION According to WHO, there are nearly 2 million stillbirths every year, one every 16 seconds. The objective of our study was to assess the frequency and associated factors of stillbirth among women who gave birth at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, eastern Ethiopia, 2021. METHODS An institution-based retrospective cross-sectional study of medical records was conducted among 336 women who gave birth from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020. Maternal medical records were selected by systematic random sampling technique and a pre-tested checklist was used to collect data. Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS-version 20. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with stillbirth. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals are reported. RESULTS The frequency of stillbirth was 12.5% (95% CI: 8.1–14.6). Preterm delivery (AOR=8.10; 95% CI: 3.01–21.79), non-booking for antenatal care (AOR=2.8; 95% CI: 1.14–6.88), antepartum hemorrhage (AOR=3.16; 95% CI: 1.10–9.04), obstructed labor (AOR=2.56; 95% CI: 1.85–7.93) and eclampsia (AOR=2.84; 95% CI: 1.45–6.98) were found to be statistically significantly associated with stillbirth. CONCLUSIONS The frequency of stillbirth in this study was high. Prematurity, non-booking for antenatal care, ante-partum hemorrhage, obstructed labor and eclampsia were independently associated for stillbirth. Therefore, we recommend that the health professionals should better work on prevention of preterm birth, active emergency obstetrical and neonatal care by boosting focused antenatal care follow-up with health education on danger signs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aisha Abdullahi
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Harar Health Sciences College, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Furo Beshir
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Harar Health Sciences College, Harar, Ethiopia
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Darouich S, Masmoudi A. Value of Placental Examination in the Diagnostic Evaluation of Stillbirth. Fetal Pediatr Pathol 2022; 41:535-550. [PMID: 33263451 DOI: 10.1080/15513815.2020.1850952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
ObjectiveThe aim was to assess the contribution of placental examination in the etiologic investigation of stillbirth. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of stillbirths that occurred after 14 weeks gestation was conducted for a one-year period. Twin pregnancies and fetuses without placentas were excluded. According to the fetoplacental examination, stillbirths were classified into etiologic groups. Results: A total of 147 stillbirths were selected. They were associated with placental, materno-fetal, fetal and multiple causes in 89 cases (61%), 23 cases (16%), 14 cases (9%) and 13 cases (9%), respectively. Unexplained stillbirths were observed in 8 cases (5%). Placental abnormalities were identified in 132/147 cases (90%). They were consistent with vascular, inflammatory and developmental lesions in 82/132 cases (61%), 28/132 cases (21%) and 18/132 cases (13%), respectively. Conclusion: Placental lesions were the main causes of stillbirth and were predominantly of vascular type including chronic villous hypoxia-ischemia and funicular anomalies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sihem Darouich
- LR99ES10 Laboratory of Human genetics, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.,Fetopathology Unit, Hospital Habib Bougatfa, Bizerte, Tunisia
| | - Aida Masmoudi
- Department of Embryo-Fetopathology, Maternity and Neonatology Center, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
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Herrera-Salazar A, Flores-Hernández LA, Valdespino-Vázquez MY, Fonseca-Coronado S, Moreno-Verduzco ER. Viral infections in stillbirth: a contribution underestimated in Mexico? J Perinat Med 2022; 50:786-795. [PMID: 35377975 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyze the role of viral infections as etiology of stillbirths in Mexico and their epidemiological impact in the context of the global Every Newborn Initiative. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was performed in electronic databases related to stillbirth and viral infections published prior to January 19th 2021. Stillbirths records and causes from National Mexican databases, during 2008-2019 period were also computed. RESULTS Only two articles with a direct relationship between viral infection and stillbirth were found, and one article with an indirect serological association was identified. During the analyzed period there were 198,076 stillbirths, with a National stillbirth rate (SBR) ranging from 6.9 to 6.5 between 2008 and 2014, with a subsequent increase to reach 7.7 in 2019. Only 19 cases were attributed to viral causes and a specific virus was identified in 11. The main causes of early stillbirth were a fetus with premature rupture of membranes and light for gestational age, and for late stillbirth these were fetus affected by oligohydramnios and slow fetal growth. The percentage classified as unspecified deaths varied from 34.4-41.9%. CONCLUSIONS In Mexico, there has been an increase in SBR during last years, but the goals of the Every Newborn Initiative is met. More than 14,500 stillbirths with at least 5,100 unspecified cases have been reported per year, and only 11 cases were attributable to a specific virus, highlighting the serious underestimation of cases and the need of implementation of routine viral diagnosis methods to improve the care of this global health problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alma Herrera-Salazar
- Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, UNAM, Cuautitlán Izcalli, México
| | - Laura A Flores-Hernández
- Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, UNAM, Cuautitlán Izcalli, México
| | - M Y Valdespino-Vázquez
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Salvador Fonseca-Coronado
- Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, UNAM, Cuautitlán Izcalli, México
| | - Elsa Romelia Moreno-Verduzco
- Subdirección de Servicios Auxiliares de Diagnóstico, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Ciudad de México, México
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Tsimbos C, Verropoulou G, Petropoulou D. Socioeconomic inequality and stillbirth rate disparities among native and foreign mothers: evidence from Greece. SN SOCIAL SCIENCES 2022; 2:140. [PMID: 35910539 PMCID: PMC9310690 DOI: 10.1007/s43545-022-00410-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We study, for the first time, stillbirth differentials among native and migrant populations in Greece using national vital registration microdata for the period of 2010–2014. We employ conventional demographic measures and propose a standardization procedure to delineate the effect of selected distributions of livebirths on the observed stillbirth rates. The stillbirth rate among immigrant mothers is 40% higher than among natives, an excess which persists throughout gestational intervals and age groups. Our findings also show a clear gradient of stillbirth rates by maternal education, favoring more educated women, and this finding applies to both native and immigrant mothers. Our standardization methodology shows that the distribution of births by maternal educational level and age play a role; this finding implies that elevated immigrant stillbirth rates may be attributed to a certain extent to the specific characteristics of this group, since immigrant women have, on average, a younger age structure and lower educational attainment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleon Tsimbos
- Department of Statistics and Insurance Science, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece
| | - Georgia Verropoulou
- Department of Statistics and Insurance Science, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece
| | - Dimitra Petropoulou
- Department of Economics, The London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
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Risk of recurrent stillbirth and neonatal mortality: mother-specific random effects analysis using longitudinal panel data from Indonesia (2000 - 2014). BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:524. [PMID: 35764969 PMCID: PMC9241301 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04819-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite significant government investments to improve birth outcomes in low and middle-income countries over the past several decades, stillbirth and neonatal mortality continue to be persistent public health problems. While they are different outcomes, there is little evidence regarding their shared and unique population-level risk factors over a mother’s reproductive lifespan. Data gaps and measurement challenges have left several areas in this field unexplored, especially assessing the risk of stillbirth or neonatal mortality over successive pregnancies to the same woman. This study aimed to assess the risk of stillbirth and neonatal mortality in Indonesia during 2000–2014, using maternal birth histories from the Indonesia Family Life Survey panel data. Methods Data from three panels were combined to create right-censored birth histories. There were 5,002 unique multiparous mothers with at least two singleton births in the sample. They reported 12,761 total births and 12,507 live births. Random effects (RE) models, which address the dependency of variance in births to the same mother, were fitted assuming births to the same mother shared unobserved risk factors unique to the mother. Results The main finding was that there having had a stillbirth increased the odds of another stillbirth nearly seven-fold and that of subsequent neonatal mortality by over two-fold. Having had a neonatal death was not associated with a future neonatal death. Mothers who were not educated and nullipara were much more likely to experience a neonatal death while mothers who had a prior neonatal death had no risk of another neonatal death due to unmeasured factors unique to the mother. Conclusions The results suggest that for stillbirths, maternal heterogeneity, as explained by a prior stillbirth, could capture underlying pathology while the relationship between observed risk factors and neonatal mortality could be much more dependent on context. Establishing previous adverse outcomes such as neonatal deaths and stillbirth could help identify high-risk pregnancies during prenatal care, inform interventions, and improve health policy.
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Flanagan E, Oudin A, Walles J, Abera A, Mattisson K, Isaxon C, Malmqvist E. Ambient and indoor air pollution exposure and adverse birth outcomes in Adama, Ethiopia. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 164:107251. [PMID: 35533531 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution poses a threat to human health, with pregnant women and their developing fetuses being particularly vulnerable. A high dual burden of ambient and indoor air pollution exposure has been identified in Ethiopia, but studies investigating their effects on adverse birth outcomes are currently lacking. This study explores the association between ambient air pollution (NOX and NO2) and indoor air pollution (cooking fuel type) and fetal and neonatal death in Adama, Ethiopia. A prospective cohort of mothers and their babies was used, into which pregnant women were recruited at their first antenatal visit (n = 2085) from November 2015 to February 2018. Previously developed land-use regression models were utilized to assess ambient concentrations of NOX and NO2 at the residential address, whereas data on cooking fuel type was derived from questionnaires. Birth outcome data was obtained from self-reported questionnaire responses during the participant's postnatal visit or by phone if an in-person meeting was not possible. Binary logistic regression was employed to assess associations within the final study population (n = 1616) using both univariate and multivariate models; the latter of which adjusted for age, education, parity, and HIV status. Odds ratios (OR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Within the cohort, 69 instances of fetal death (n = 16 miscarriages; n = 53 stillbirths) and 16 cases of neonatal death were identified. The findings suggest a tendency towards an association between ambient NOX and NO2 exposure during pregnancy and an increased risk of fetal death overall as well as stillbirth, specifically. However, statistical significance was not observed. Results for indoor air pollution and neonatal death were inconclusive. As limited evidence on the effects of exposure to ambient air pollution on adverse birth outcomes exists in Sub-Saharan Africa and Ethiopia, additional studies with larger study populations should be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Flanagan
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Anna Oudin
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - John Walles
- Clinical Infection Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Asmamaw Abera
- Ethiopia Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Kristoffer Mattisson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christina Isaxon
- Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ebba Malmqvist
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Taweevisit M, Nimitpanya P, Thorner PS. Classification of stillbirth by the International Classification of Diseases for Perinatal Mortality using a sequential approach: A 20-year retrospective study from Thailand. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2022; 48:1175-1182. [PMID: 35178832 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM The International Classification of Diseases for Perinatal Mortality (ICD-PM) is a system for recording causes of perinatal death. In this system, placental pathology is considered a "maternal condition" and this category does not cover the spectrum of placental pathology that can impact on perinatal death. The aim of the study was to apply a wider spectrum of placental pathology as a separate parameter for classifying death in the ICD-PM. METHODS All autopsy reports at a single institution over a 20-year period (2001-2020) were reviewed. Causes of stillbirth were analyzed in a sequential manner: step 1, clinical history and laboratory results; step 2, placenta; and step 3, autopsy; and classified at each step according to the ICD-PM. RESULTS The review identified 330 cases, including 126 antepartum and 204 intrapartum deaths. Step 1 identified a cause in 176 (86%) intrapartum deaths and 64 (51%) antepartum deaths. The addition of placental pathology (step 2) changed the cause of death in 12% of cases, with causes now identified in 190 (93%) intrapartum and 89 (71%) antepartum deaths. Adding step 3 did not identify any additional causes of death. CONCLUSION The accuracy of the ICD-PM classification is dependent on the data available. Placental pathology made a significant difference in assigning causes of death in our series, stressing the importance of placental examination. Determination of the cause of death based on clinical history and laboratory data alone may be inaccurate, and less useful for comparative studies and planning prenatal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mana Taweevisit
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Panachai Nimitpanya
- King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Paul S Thorner
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Makhado LC, Mangena-Netshikweta ML, Mulondo SA, Olaniyi FC. The Roles of Obstetrics Training Skills and Utilisation of Maternity Unit Protocols in Reducing Perinatal Mortality in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10040662. [PMID: 35455839 PMCID: PMC9027628 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10040662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Perinatal mortality has been associated with poor maternal health during pregnancy and intrapartum periods. This study was conducted to determine the effects of obstetrics training programmes and the utilization of maternal unit protocols in the management of obstetric complications in reducing neonatal mortality rate in selected public hospitals in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa. A quantitative, descriptive design was used and a non-probability purposive sampling method was used to select midwives with a minimum of two (2) years of working experience in maternity wards of selected public hospitals. A total of 105 completed questionnaires were analysed using SPSS version 23. Most of the respondents were within the age group of 40–59 years (74.3%) and with professional experience of more than 10 years (76.8%). More than half (63.8%) had qualified as midwives at a diploma level. Only 44.8% indicated that the protocols were always utilised, even though the majority (70.5%) believed that the protocols are helpful in managing obstetrics complications. The obstetric skills are helpful in reducing neonatal mortality, however, utilisation of the protocols is not encouraging in the studied health facilities. We recommend that efforts should be geared towards the enforcement of the protocol’s use, and all midwives should be encouraged to undergo the trainings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Langanani C. Makhado
- Department of Advanced Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa; (L.C.M.); (S.A.M.)
| | - Mutshinyalo L. Mangena-Netshikweta
- Department of Advanced Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa; (L.C.M.); (S.A.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +27-15-962-8393
| | - Seani A. Mulondo
- Department of Advanced Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa; (L.C.M.); (S.A.M.)
| | - Foluke C. Olaniyi
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa;
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Asim M, Karim S, Khwaja H, Hameed W, Saleem S. The unspoken grief of multiple stillbirths in rural Pakistan: an interpretative phenomenological study. BMC Womens Health 2022; 22:45. [PMID: 35193576 PMCID: PMC8864776 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-022-01622-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pakistan has the highest rate of stillbirth (30.6 stillbirths per 1000 total births) as compared to other South Asian countries. The psychological impact of stillbirths on bereaved women is well documented; however, there is a dearth of literature on lived experiences of women with multiple stillbirths in Pakistan. Objective The purpose of this research is to understand the lived experiences of women who had multiple stillbirths in Thatta, Pakistan. Methods An interpretative phenomenological study was conducted in district Thatta with eight women who experienced more than one stillbirth. A semi-structured in-depth interview guide was used for data collection. The data were analyzed by using thematic analysis approach. Results The results of this study show that experiencing multiple stillbirths has a devastating impact on women’s mental and social wellbeing. The women who experienced multiple stillbirths are stigmatized as “child-killer” or cursed or being punished by God. They are avoided in social gatherings within the families and community, because of these social pressures these women seek spiritual and religious treatment, and struggle to conceive again to deliver a live baby. It was observed that the psycho-social and medical needs of these bereaved women remain unaddressed not only by the healthcare system but also by the society at large. Conclusions The physical, social and mental well-being of women who experience multiple stillbirth are at stake. These women are being considered social outcast. Health care providers including physicians, lady health workers, and traditional birth attendants should be trained on provision of psychosocial support along with the routine care that they provide in communities and health facilities. The health care providers should also inform the bereaved women about the biomedical causes of stillbirths that would be helpful to mitigate the stigma associated with stillbirths. Moreover, the health care providers should also counsel family members especially in-laws of these sorrowful women about the biomedical causes of stillbirths that would also be helpful to mitigate the stigma associated with stillbirths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Asim
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, PO Box 3500, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan.
| | - Sehrish Karim
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, PO Box 3500, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan
| | - Hajra Khwaja
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, PO Box 3500, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan
| | - Waqas Hameed
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, PO Box 3500, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan
| | - Sarah Saleem
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, PO Box 3500, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan
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Marwah S, Jain A, Dabral A, Gupta N. Stillbirth in COVID-19 Affected Pregnancies: A Double Whammy for the Mother. Cureus 2022; 14:e22396. [PMID: 35371732 PMCID: PMC8938211 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.22396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pregnant women represent a high-risk group especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, suffering at the expense of pandemic restrictions and landing up in adverse maternofetal outcomes including stillbirth. Fetal demise along with COVID-19 disease acts as a double blow to these mothers. Literature is still limited on its impact on maternofetal outcomes. Methods A prospective, observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India from April 15, 2020 to April 14, 2021, wherein all pregnant mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the hospital who delivered a stillborn baby were enrolled and analyzed for incidence of stillbirth. These women were evaluated for risk factors and causes for stillbirth. Results Out of 15859 deliveries in the institute, there were 330 viable births among COVID-19 affected pregnancies. The incidence of stillbirth was 7.2% (24/330). The institutional delivery rate fell by 43% during the pandemic. The majority of cases were unbooked, from rural areas and of low socioeconomic status (p<0.01). The most significant risk factor and cause for stillbirth was an associated comorbidity (75%, p<0.001), notably severe forms of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP, 41.6%, p=0.002), followed by preterm labour (58.3%) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM, 29.1%, p<0.001). HDP remained the main cause of macerated stillbirths while maternal fever (50%, p<0.001) was the main cause of fresh stillbirth. Major modifiable factors were lack of awareness of when to seek care (83.3%), financial reasons (75%), commutation problems (87.5%), distance to hospitals (50%) and delayed referral (41.6%). Conclusion Improved policy-making, with an emphasis on telemedicine, COVID-19 preparedness alongside amped up vaccination and healthcare workers training will help reduce adverse maternofetal outcomes.
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Brasileiro M, Souza RT, Griggio TB, Vieira MC, Oliveira PF, Silva CM, Dias MAB, Pasupathy D, Cecatti JG. Fetal deaths in Brazil: What changed in the last decade and what can we learn from the current situation? Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2022; 159:254-262. [PMID: 35080264 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine fetal death rates (FDRs) according to maternal characteristics in Brazil. METHODS A serial cross-sectional analysis was conducted based on vital statistics of the Brazilian population from 2007 to 2019. FDRs were estimated according to maternal and pregnancy characteristics. Annual percent change (APC) of FDR was assessed by joinpoint regression model. Causes of death were compared between the ante-/intrapartum periods. RESULTS A significant reduction in FDR occurred in Brazil during 2007-2019 (11.1 and 10.43 in 2007 and 2019, respectively; APC -0.44). Only the northern region showed an increase in FDR. In 2019, the northeast and southeast had the highest and lowest FDRs, respectively (11.4 and 7.8/1000 live births). In adolescents, FDR increased from 2007 to 2016 (APC 1.75). In 2019, missing information was significantly high for maternal skin color (99.7%), schooling (17.0%), and age (7.0%) in fetal death registries. The most common causes of fetal death in the ante-/intrapartum periods were fetus and newborn affected by maternal conditions. CONCLUSION A reduction in FDR has been achieved in Brazil over the last decade. However, there is an unmet need for decreasing social and regional disparities. A better system to attribute causes of death is needed to identifying priorities in maternal-fetal health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Brasileiro
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), School of Medical Sciences, Cidade Universitaria, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Renato T Souza
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), School of Medical Sciences, Cidade Universitaria, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Thayna B Griggio
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), School of Medical Sciences, Cidade Universitaria, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Matias C Vieira
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), School of Medical Sciences, Cidade Universitaria, Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, Women's Health Academic Centre KHP, Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
| | - Paulo F Oliveira
- Unit of Statistics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Cleide M Silva
- Unit of Statistics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos A B Dias
- Fernandes Figueira Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Dharmintra Pasupathy
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, Women's Health Academic Centre KHP, Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.,Reproduction and Perinatal Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - José G Cecatti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), School of Medical Sciences, Cidade Universitaria, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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McElroy S, Ilango S, Dimitrova A, Gershunov A, Benmarhnia T. Extreme heat, preterm birth, and stillbirth: A global analysis across 14 lower-middle income countries. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106902. [PMID: 34627013 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Stillbirths and complications from preterm birth are two of the leading causes of neonatal deaths across the globe. Lower- to middle-income countries (LMICs) are experiencing some of the highest rates of these adverse birth outcomes. Research has suggested that environmental determinants, such as extreme heat, can increase the risk of preterm birth and stillbirth. Under climate change, extreme heat events have become more severe and frequent and are occurring in differential seasonal patterns. Little is known about how extreme heat affects the risk of preterm birth and stillbirth in LMICs. Thus, it is imperative to examine how exposure to extreme heat affects adverse birth outcomes in regions with some of the highest rates of preterm and stillbirths. Most of the evidence linking extreme heat and adverse birth outcomes has been generated from high-income countries (HICs) notably because measuring temperature in LMICs has proven challenging due to the scarcity of ground monitors. The paucity of health data has been an additional obstacle to study this relationship in LMICs. In this study, globally gridded meteorological data was linked with spatially and temporally resolved Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data on adverse birth outcomes. A global analysis of 14 LMICs was conducted per a pooled time-stratified case-crossover design with distributed-lag nonlinear models to ascertain the relationship between acute exposure to extreme heat and PTB and stillbirths. We notably found that experiencing higher maximum temperatures and smaller diurnal temperature range during the last week before birth increased the risk of preterm birth and stillbirth. This study is the first global assessment of extreme heat events and adverse birth outcomes and builds the evidence base for LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara McElroy
- University of California, San Diego-Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, United States; San Diego State University, United States; Scripps Institution of Oceanography, United States.
| | - Sindana Ilango
- University of California, San Diego-Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, United States; San Diego State University, United States; Scripps Institution of Oceanography, United States; University of Washington, United States
| | - Anna Dimitrova
- University of California, San Diego-Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, United States; San Diego State University, United States; Scripps Institution of Oceanography, United States
| | - Alexander Gershunov
- University of California, San Diego-Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, United States; San Diego State University, United States; Scripps Institution of Oceanography, United States
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- University of California, San Diego-Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, United States; San Diego State University, United States; Scripps Institution of Oceanography, United States
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van den Broek N. Keep it simple - Effective training in obstetrics for low- and middle-income countries. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2021; 80:25-38. [PMID: 34872860 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In low-and middle-income countries, the burden of disease related to pregnancy and childbirth remains high. The health of the mother is intricately linked to that of the baby. Neonatal mortality is most likely to occur in the first week of life accounting for almost half of all deaths among children under 5-year old. Many babies are stillborn each year. It is important that healthcare is accessible, available, and of good quality. This requires a functioning health system with motivated, competent healthcare providers who were able to provide the continuum of care for mothers and babies. Pre- and in-service training is effective if it uses adult learning approaches, includes all members of the maternity team, and is focused on the core content of the care packages that are agreed for each setting. Most programmes that seek to build the capacity of the health system include training as one of the interventions to be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nynke van den Broek
- Maternal and Newborn Health, Independent Consultant Global Health, 5 Newcroft Road, Liverpool, L25 6EP, United Kingdom.
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43
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Yamada M, Furukawa K, Tatsukawa Y, Marumo K, Funamoto S, Sakata R, Ozasa K, Cullings HM, Preston DL, Kurttio P. Congenital Malformations and Perinatal Deaths Among the Children of Atomic Bomb Survivors: A Reappraisal. Am J Epidemiol 2021; 190:2323-2333. [PMID: 33847738 PMCID: PMC8561127 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
From 1948 to 1954, the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission conducted a study of pregnancy outcomes among births to atomic bomb survivors (Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan) who had received radiation doses ranging from 0 Gy to near-lethal levels. Past reports (1956, 1981, and 1990) on the cohort did not identify significant associations of radiation exposure with untoward pregnancy outcomes, such as major congenital malformations, stillbirths, or neonatal deaths, individually or in aggregate. We reexamined the risk of major congenital malformations and perinatal deaths in the children of atomic bomb survivors (n = 71,603) using fully reconstructed data to minimize the potential for bias, using refined estimates of the gonadal dose from Dosimetry System 2002 and refined analytical methods for characterizing dose-response relationships. The analyses showed that parental exposure to radiation was associated with increased risk of major congenital malformations and perinatal death, but the estimates were imprecise for direct radiation effects, and most were not statistically significant. Nonetheless, the uniformly positive estimates for untoward pregnancy outcomes among children of both maternal and paternal survivors are useful for risk assessment purposes, although extending them to populations other than the atomic bomb survivors comes with uncertainty as to generalizability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiko Yamada
- Correspondence to Dr. Michiko Yamada, Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan (e-mail: )
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Dube K, Lavender T, Blaikie K, Sutton CJ, Heazell AEP, Smyth RMD. Identification of factors associated with stillbirth in Zimbabwe - a cross sectional study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:662. [PMID: 34587922 PMCID: PMC8482658 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04102-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION 98% of the 2.6 million stillbirths per annum occur in low and middle income countries. However, understanding of risk factors for stillbirth in these settings is incomplete, hampering efforts to develop effective strategies to prevent deaths. METHODS A cross-sectional study of eligible women on the postnatal ward at Mpilo Hospital, Zimbabwe was undertaken between 01/08/2018 and 31/03/2019 (n = 1779). Data were collected from birth records for maternal characteristics, obstetric and past medical history, antenatal care and pregnancy outcome. A directed acyclic graph was constructed with multivariable logistic regression performed to fit the corresponding model specification to data comprising singleton pregnancies, excluding neonatal deaths (n = 1734), using multiple imputation for missing data. Where possible, findings were validated against all women with births recorded in the hospital birth register (n = 1847). RESULTS Risk factors for stillbirth included: previous stillbirth (29/1691 (2%) of livebirths and 39/43 (91%) of stillbirths, adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 2628.9, 95% CI 342.8 to 20,163.0), antenatal care (aOR 44.49 no antenatal care vs. > 4 antenatal care visits, 95% CI 6.80 to 291.19), maternal medical complications (aOR 7.33, 95% CI 1.99 to 26.92) and season of birth (Cold season vs. Mild aOR 14.29, 95% CI 3.09 to 66.08; Hot season vs. Mild aOR 3.39, 95% CI 0.86 to 13.27). Women who had recurrent stillbirth had a lower educational and health status (18.2% had no education vs. 10.0%) and were less likely to receive antenatal care (20.5% had no antenatal care vs. 6.6%) than women without recurrent stillbirth. CONCLUSION The increased risk in women who have a history of stillbirth is a novel finding in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) and is in agreement with findings from High Income Countries (HICs), although the estimated effect size is much greater (OR in HICs ~ 5). Developing antenatal care for this group of women offers an important opportunity for stillbirth prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kushupika Dube
- Mpilo School of Midwifery, PO Box 2096, Vera Road, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
| | - Tina Lavender
- Centre for Childbirth, Women's and Newborn Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kieran Blaikie
- Centre for Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Christopher J Sutton
- Centre for Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Alexander E P Heazell
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biological, Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,National University of Science & Technology, P. O. Box AC 939, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
| | - Rebecca M D Smyth
- Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Kebede E, Kekulawala M. Risk factors for stillbirth and early neonatal death: a case-control study in tertiary hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:641. [PMID: 34548064 PMCID: PMC8456546 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04025-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ethiopia is a Sub-Saharan country that has made significant improvements in maternal mortality and under-five mortality over the past 15 years. However, the nation continues to have one of the highest rates of perinatal mortality in the entire world with current estimates at 33 deaths per 1000 live births. METHODS This case-control study was conducted between October 2016 and May 2017 at Tikur Anbessa Hospital and Gandhi Memorial Hospital. All women who had a stillbirth or early neonatal death (i.e. death within 7 days) during this period willing to participate were included as cases. A systematic random sample of women delivering at the hospital were approached for recruitment as controls to generate a 2:1 ratio of controls to cases. Data on risk factors were retrieved from medical records including delivery records, and treatment charts. Statistical differences in background and social characteristics of cases and controls were determined by t-test and chi-squared (or fisher's exact test) for quantitative and categorical variables respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was completed to determine any associations between risk factors and stillbirth/early neonatal death. RESULTS During the study period, 366 women delivering at the hospitals were enrolled as cases and 711 women delivering at the hospitals were enrolled as controls. Records from both hospitals indicated that the estimated stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates were 30.7 per 1000. Neonatal causes (43.4%) were the most common, followed by antepartum (32.5%) and intrapartum (24.5%). Risk factors for stillbirths and early neonatal death were low maternal education (aOR 1.747, 95%CI 1.098-2.780), previous stillbirth (aOR 9.447, 95%CI 6.245-14.289), previous preterm birth (aOR 3.620, 95%CI 2.363-5.546), and previous child with congenital abnormality (aOR 2.190, 95% 1.228-3.905), and antepartum hemorrhage during pregnancy (aOR 3.273, 95% 1.523-7.031). CONCLUSION Antepartum hemorrhaging is the only risk factor in our study amenable for direct intervention. Efforts should be maximized to improve patient education and antenatal and obstetric services. Moreover, the most significant cause of mortality was asphyxia-related causes. It is imperative that obstetric capacity in rehabilitation services are strengthened and for further studies to investigate the high burden of asphyxia at these tertiary hospitals to better tailor interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eskinder Kebede
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Melani Kekulawala
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.,College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, USA
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Worku D, Teshome D, Tiruneh C, Teshome A, Berihun G, Berhanu L, Walle Z. Antenatal care dropout and associated factors among mothers delivering in public health facilities of Dire Dawa Town, Eastern Ethiopia. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:623. [PMID: 34525974 PMCID: PMC8442648 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04107-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction More than two-thirds of the pregnant women in Africa have at least one antenatal care contact with a health care provider. However, to achieve the full life-saving potential that antenatal care promises for women and babies, four visits providing essential evidence-based interventions – a package often called focused antenatal care are required. Hence, identifying the factors associated with dropout of maternal health care utilization would have meaningful implications. The study aimed to assess antenatal care dropout and associated factors among mothers delivering in the public health facilities of Dire Dawa town, Ethiopia. Methods Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to 30, 2020. Proportionate sampling and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 230 women. Data were collected using a structured and pretested interview administered questionnaire during delivery. The data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. A binary logistic regression model with a 95 % confidence interval was used to analyze the results. Bivariable analysis (COR [crude odds ratio]) and multivariable analysis (AOR [adjusted odds ratio]) was used to analyze the results. From the bivariable analysis, variables with a p-value < 0.25 were entered into the multivariable logistic regression analysis. From the multivariable logistic regression analysis, variables with a significance level of p-value < 0.05 were taken as factors independently associated with ANC dropout. Result The proportion of antenatal care dropouts was 86 (37.4 %) (95 % CI: 31.3–43.9). In logistic regression analyses, those who had no past antenatal care follow up were more likely to have ANC dropout (AOR = 7.89; 95 % CI: 2.109–29.498) and those who had no professional advice were more likely to have antenatal care dropout (AOR = 4.64 95 % CI: 1.246–17.254). Conclusions This study indicates that a high number of women had antenatal care dropout. Having no past ANC follow-up and professional advice were the major factors of ANC service utilization dropout. Hence, giving more information during the ANC visit is important to reduce the dropout rate from the maternity continuum of care. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-021-04107-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dereje Worku
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachamo University, Hossana, Ethiopia
| | - Daniel Teshome
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia.
| | - Chalachew Tiruneh
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Alemtsehay Teshome
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachamo University, Hossana, Ethiopia
| | - Gete Berihun
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Leykun Berhanu
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Zebader Walle
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
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Hug L, You D, Blencowe H, Mishra A, Wang Z, Fix MJ, Wakefield J, Moran AC, Gaigbe-Togbe V, Suzuki E, Blau DM, Cousens S, Creanga A, Croft T, Hill K, Joseph KS, Maswime S, McClure EM, Pattinson R, Pedersen J, Smith LK, Zeitlin J, Alkema L. Global, regional, and national estimates and trends in stillbirths from 2000 to 2019: a systematic assessment. Lancet 2021; 398:772-785. [PMID: 34454675 PMCID: PMC8417352 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01112-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stillbirths are a major public health issue and a sensitive marker of the quality of care around pregnancy and birth. The UN Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (2016-30) and the Every Newborn Action Plan (led by UNICEF and WHO) call for an end to preventable stillbirths. A first step to prevent stillbirths is obtaining standardised measurement of stillbirth rates across countries. We estimated stillbirth rates and their trends for 195 countries from 2000 to 2019 and assessed progress over time. METHODS For a systematic assessment, we created a dataset of 2833 country-year datapoints from 171 countries relevant to stillbirth rates, including data from registration and health information systems, household-based surveys, and population-based studies. After data quality assessment and exclusions, we used 1531 datapoints to estimate country-specific stillbirth rates for 195 countries from 2000 to 2019 using a Bayesian hierarchical temporal sparse regression model, according to a definition of stillbirth of at least 28 weeks' gestational age. Our model combined covariates with a temporal smoothing process such that estimates were informed by data for country-periods with high quality data, while being based on covariates for country-periods with little or no data on stillbirth rates. Bias and additional uncertainty associated with observations based on alternative stillbirth definitions and source types, and observations that were subject to non-sampling errors, were included in the model. We compared the estimated stillbirth rates and trends to previously reported mortality estimates in children younger than 5 years. FINDINGS Globally in 2019, an estimated 2·0 million babies (90% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·9-2·2) were stillborn at 28 weeks or more of gestation, with a global stillbirth rate of 13·9 stillbirths (90% UI 13·5-15·4) per 1000 total births. Stillbirth rates in 2019 varied widely across regions, from 22·8 stillbirths (19·8-27·7) per 1000 total births in west and central Africa to 2·9 (2·7-3·0) in western Europe. After west and central Africa, eastern and southern Africa and south Asia had the second and third highest stillbirth rates in 2019. The global annual rate of reduction in stillbirth rate was estimated at 2·3% (90% UI 1·7-2·7) from 2000 to 2019, which was lower than the 2·9% (2·5-3·2) annual rate of reduction in neonatal mortality rate (for neonates aged <28 days) and the 4·3% (3·8-4·7) annual rate of reduction in mortality rate among children aged 1-59 months during the same period. Based on the lower bound of the 90% UIs, 114 countries had an estimated decrease in stillbirth rate since 2000, with four countries having a decrease of at least 50·0%, 28 having a decrease of 25·0-49·9%, 50 having a decrease of 10·0-24·9%, and 32 having a decrease of less than 10·0%. For the remaining 81 countries, we found no decrease in stillbirth rate since 2000. Of these countries, 34 were in sub-Saharan Africa, 16 were in east Asia and the Pacific, and 15 were in Latin America and the Caribbean. INTERPRETATION Progress in reducing the rate of stillbirths has been slow compared with decreases in the mortality rate of children younger than 5 years. Accelerated improvements are most needed in the regions and countries with high stillbirth rates, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Future prevention of stillbirths needs increased efforts to raise public awareness, improve data collection, assess progress, and understand public health priorities locally, all of which require investment. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Hug
- Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Danzhen You
- Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hannah Blencowe
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Anu Mishra
- Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhengfan Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Allisyn C Moran
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Emi Suzuki
- Development Data Group, World Bank, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Dianna M Blau
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Simon Cousens
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Trevor Croft
- The Demographic and Health Surveys Program, ICF, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | - K S Joseph
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Children's and Women's Hospital and Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | - Robert Pattinson
- SAMRC/UP Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Lucy K Smith
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Jennifer Zeitlin
- Inserm UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in Pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Leontine Alkema
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
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Sharma B, Bhattarai S, Shrestha S, Joshi R, Tamrakar R, Singh P, Chaudhary J, Pandit U. Maternal and fetal characteristics and causes of stillbirth in a tertiary care hospital of Nepal: secondary analysis of registry-based surveillance data. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e045012. [PMID: 34373292 PMCID: PMC8354277 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Stillbirth is one of the vital indicators of quality care. This study aimed to determine maternal-fetal characteristics and causes of stillbirth in Nepal. DESIGN Secondary analysis of single-centred registry-based surveillance data. SETTING The study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital, a tertiary care hospital located in Bharatpur, Nepal. PARTICIPANTS All deliveries of intrauterine fetal death, at or beyond 22 weeks' period of gestation and/or birth weight of 500 g or more, conducted between 16 July 2017 and 15 July 2019 were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure of this study was stillbirth, and the secondary outcome measures were maternal and fetal characteristics and cause of stillbirth. RESULTS Out of 5282 institutional deliveries conducted over 2 years, 79 (1.5%) were stillbirths, which gives the stillbirth rate of 15 per 1000 births. Of them, the majority (75; 94.9%) were vaginal delivery and only four (5.1%) were caesarean section (p<0.0001). The proportion of the macerated type of stillbirth was more than that of the fresh type (58.2% vs 41.8%; p=0.13). Only half of the mothers who experienced stillbirth had received antenatal care. While the cause of fetal death was unknown in one-third of cases (31.6%; 25/79), among likely causes, the most common was maternal hypertension (29.1%), followed by intrauterine infection (8.9%) and fetal malpresentation (7.6%). Four out of 79 stillbirths (5%) had a birth defect. CONCLUSION High rate of stillbirths in Nepal could be due to the lack of quality antenatal care. The country's health systems should be strengthened so that pregnancy-related risks such as maternal hypertension and infections are identified early on. Upgrading mothers' hygiene and health awareness is equally crucial in reducing fetal deaths in low-resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basant Sharma
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
| | - Suraj Bhattarai
- Global Health, Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sabita Shrestha
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
| | - Rakshya Joshi
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
| | - Renuka Tamrakar
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
| | - Prekshya Singh
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
| | - Jully Chaudhary
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
| | - Upendra Pandit
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
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Aguinaga M, Valdespino Y, Medina D, Espino Y Sosa S, Sevilla R, Miranda O, Acevedo S, Monroy IE, Helguera AC, Pérez J, Mariscal LF, Murillo MR, Lara RM, Armijos JC, Rogel G, Cardona JA. Causal analysis of fetal death in high-risk pregnancies. J Perinat Med 2021; 49:740-747. [PMID: 33735952 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2020-0352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the causes of fetal death among the stillbirths using two classification systems from 22 weeks of gestation in a period of three years in high-risk pregnancies. This is a retrospective observational study. METHODS The National Institute of Perinatal Health in Mexico City is a Level 3 care referral center attending high-risk pregnancies from throughout the country. The population consisted of patients with fetal death during a three-year period. Between January 2016 and December 2018, all stillbirths were examined in the Pathology Department by a pathologist and a medical geneticist. Stillbirth was defined as a fetal death occurring after 22 weeks of gestation. RESULTS Main outcome measures: Causal analysis of fetal death using the International Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health Problems-Perinatal Mortality (ICD-PM) and initial causes of fetal death (INCODE) classification systems. A total of 297 stillborn neonates were studied. The distribution of gestational age in antepartum stillbirths (55.2%) showed a bimodal curve, 36% occurred between 24 and 27 weeks and 32% between 32 and 36 weeks. In comparison, the majority (86%) of intrapartum deaths (44.8%) were less than 28 weeks of gestation. Of the 273 women enrolled, 93 (34%) consented to a complete fetal autopsy. The INCODE system showed a present cause in 42%, a possible cause in 54% and a probable cause in 93% of patients. CONCLUSIONS The principal causes of antepartum death were fetal abnormalities and pathologic placental conditions and the principal causes of intrapartum death were complications of pregnancy which caused a premature labor and infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Aguinaga
- Human Genetics and Genomics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yolotzin Valdespino
- Pathology Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Daniela Medina
- Human Genetics and Genomics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Salvador Espino Y Sosa
- Subdirection of Clinical Research, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosalba Sevilla
- Human Genetics and Genomics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Osvaldo Miranda
- Obstetrics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sandra Acevedo
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Irma E Monroy
- Human Genetics and Genomics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Addy C Helguera
- Immunobiochemistry Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Javier Pérez
- Human Genetics and Genomics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luisa F Mariscal
- Human Genetics and Genomics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mauricio R Murillo
- Human Genetics and Genomics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosa M Lara
- Human Genetics and Genomics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jessica C Armijos
- Human Genetics and Genomics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Rogel
- Human Genetics and Genomics Department, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
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50
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Fonseca SC, Kale PL, Teixeira GHMDC, Lopes VGS. [Avoidability of fetal deaths: reflections on the Brazilian List of Avoidable Causes of Deaths through interventions by the Brazilian Unified National Health System]. CAD SAUDE PUBLICA 2021; 37:e00265920. [PMID: 34287588 DOI: 10.1590/0102-311x00265920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the Brazilian List of Avoidable Causes of Deaths (LBE in Portuguese), in its version for children under 5 years of age (LBE < 5), does not include stillbirths, some studies have used the list with or without adaptations. We present a proposal for adaptation of the LBE for stillbirths (LBE-OF in Portuguese) and the results of its application to stillbirths in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2018, compared to the results with LBE < 5. We reviewed the categories from the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) in the LBE < 5 and reassigned them in the avoidability groups, according to time of death in relation to delivery and the causes consistent with stillbirths. Conditions that did not elucidate the determinants of death were allocated as ill-defined causes. Stillbirths in the State of Rio de Janeiro, selected from the databases of the Mortality Information System (SIM in Portuguese), were classified according to LBE-OF and LBE < 5. When classifying the 2,585 stillbirths that occurred in the State of Rio de Janeiro in 2018, we found that according to LBE < 5, there were predominantly causes "reducible by adequate care in labor and delivery" (42.9%), while according to LBE-OF, the most frequent causes were "reducible by adequate care for during pregnancy" (43.6%). Ill-defined causes ranked second according to the LBE-OF (35.4%) and third according to LBE < 5. Some 30% of stillbirths changed groups and subgroups of avoidability, showing greater consistency with the profile of obstetric care. Although identifying a higher percentage of ill-defined causes, the LBE-OF is more consistent with the pathophysiology of fetal deaths. The inclusion of stillbirths in the SIM would be a positive step in monitoring and upgrading the investigation of causes of fetal death.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pauline Lorena Kale
- Instituto de Estudos de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
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