Stillbirths and early neonatal mortality in rural Northern Ghana
Cyril Engmann1, Paul Walega, Raymond A Aborigo
1Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7596, USA. cengmann@med.unc.edu
Objective:
To calculate perinatal mortality (stillbirth and early neonatal death: END) rates in the Upper East region of Ghana and characterize community-based stillbirths and END in terms of timing, cause of death, and maternal and infant risk factors.
Methods:
Birth outcomes were obtained from the Navrongo Health and Demographic Surveillance System over a 7-year period.
Results:
Twenty thousand four hundred and ninty seven pregnant women were registered in the study. The perinatal mortality rate was 39 deaths/1000 deliveries, stillbirth rate 23/1000 deliveries and END rates 16/1000 live births. Most stillbirths were 31 weeks gestation or less. Prematurity, first-time delivery and multiple gestation all significantly increased the odds of perinatal death. Approximately 70% of END occurred during the first 3 postnatal days, and the most common causes of death were birth asphyxia and injury, infections and prematurity.
Conclusion:
Stillbirths and END remain a significant problem in Navrongo. The main causes of END occur during the first 3 days and may be modifiable with simple targeted perinatal policies.
