Risk factors for perinatal asphyxia at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi

The aim of the study was to identify maternal risk factors for perinatal asphyxia in Malawi. Records of 100 mothers who delivered neonates with Apgar scores less than 6 at 5 minutes of birth during March to September 1998 were analyzed. The majority of the mothers were primigravidas (79%) and were within the normal childbearing ages of 20 to 34 years (61.2%). Sixty-one percent of the mothers started antenatal care at 20 to 28 weeks' gestation. Sixty-five percent of the mothers developed obstetric and medical problems that contributed to perinatal asphyxia, and of these, 12 mothers (18.5%) had more than one problem. The problems were premature labor and delivery (21%), preeclampsia (10%), cephalopelvic disproportion (8%), breech presentation (12%), prolonged second stage (11%), fetal distress (7%), cord prolapse (4%), antepartum hemorrhage (2%), prolonged rupture of membranes (1%), and malaria (1%). Forty-six percent had assisted deliveries, and these were cesarean section (18%), vacuum extraction (14%), breech delivery (12%), and forceps delivery (2%). Eighty-one percent of the neonates were admitted to the neonatal nursery, and of these, 56 neonates (67.1%) developed complications; the most common was hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (38 neonates; 67.9%). Thirty-three percent of the neonates died within 6 days postdelivery. Morbidity and mortality related to perinatal asphyxia can be reduced if staff are knowledgeable and skilled in basic neonatal resuscitation and necessary equipment is available. Mothers should be encouraged to report early for antepartum and intrapartum care for adequate surveillance. The quality of neonatal care, with a focus on thermoregulation and infection prevention, needs to be improved.