LEVELS AND DETERMINANTS OF PERINATAL-MORTALITY IN CENTRAL SUDAN

OBJECTIVES, To determine levels and risk factors for perinatal mortali ty in Central Sudan. METHODS. Hospital and community based studies wer e conducted during the period 1989-1990. Of 5328 births registered in the hospital, 197 stillborns and 812 live-born infants were included i n a nested case-control study. In the community, a follow-up study was conducted on 1592 midwife-assisted home deliveries. Multivariate logi stic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of perinatal mortality and adjusted population attributable risks were estimated to assess the contribution of each factor. RESULTS. The perinatal mortal ity rate was 85.4/1000 births in the hospital population and 29.4/1000 births in the community population. The major risk factors for perina tal mortality in the hospital and the community studies were similar a nd modifiable. CONCLUSIONS: To lower perinatal mortality, improvements in maternal nutrition, malaria treatment and control, avoidance of ag ricultural pesticides during pregnancy, and adequate antenatal and int rapartum care are recommended.