Perinatal mortality rate in Al-Ramadi Maternity and Children's Hospital, western Iraq

To estimate the perinatal mortality rate (PMR) in Al-Ramadi city, Iraq, and study its associated causative factors following the 2003 Coalition Forces occupation of Iraq.

All the hospital stillbirth, and early neonatal death deliveries at the Al-Ramadi Maternity and Children's Hospital, Al-Anbar Governorate, western Iraq, from 15th June to 15th December 2005 were included in the study. Data collected for the mother includes: age, residence, parity, plurality, mode of delivery, medical and obstetrical history, antenatal care (ANC), and previous perinatal death. For dead babies: gestational age, gender, birth weight, and Apgar scores were also collected.

The total studied deliveries were 3,249 births. The perinatal mortalities were 125 (43 stillbirths, and 82 neonatal deaths), giving an overall PMR of (38.5/1000). Males showed higher PMR (45.9/1000) than females (29.1/1000). Low birth weight babies among live births were 939 (29.2%), and were of higher (95.8/1000) PMR than normal (15.1/1000) weight births. Significant association was found between the gestational age, Apgar score, maternal age, residence, previous medical history, previous perinatal death, and plurality with the PMR. While no association was found between the mode of delivery, parity, ANC, and PMR.

This study showed lower rates than some Iraqi studies applied before 2003, but still was of higher PMR when compared with the rates of most neighboring Arab and other developed countries.