Determinants of stillbirth among deliveries conducted at west Shoa zone public hospitals, central Ethiopia: a case-control study

Globally, 2.6 million stillbirths are estimated to occur each year. The causes of stillbirth are often unknown but can be attributed to various causes. Therefore, identifying the determinants of stillbirth is quite important for applying further meaningful interventions. The purpose of this study was to identify the determinants of stillbirth among deliveries conducted at selected public hospitals in the West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia.

A hospital-based unmatched case‒control study with a 1:4 ratio was conducted. A total of 431 (87 cases and 344 controls) participants were involved. A systematic random sampling method was used for control selection. Data were collected using interview administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 26 software. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed for the independent variables and outcome variables. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to assess the strength of the associations, and statistical significance was declared at P value < 0.05.

In this study, 428 mothers who delivered (85 patients and 343 controls) participated, for a 99.3% response rate. Preeclampsia/eclampsia (AOR = 13.43, 95% CI: 5.67-31.82), other health conditions (AOR = 5.39, 95% CI: 2.34-12.46), mal-presentation (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.50-7.76), umbilical cord accidents (AOR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.11-5.93), meconium-stained amniotic fluid problems (AOR = 5.01, 95% CI: 2.15-11.67) and low birth weight (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.28-6.59) were identified as determinant variables of stillbirth.

Low birth weight, referral status, meconium-stained amniotic fluid problems, umbilical cord accidents, mal-presentation and preeclampsia/eclampsia were identified as independent determinants of stillbirth. Therefore, hospitals and health workers are recommended to focus on identifying and preventing these factors.