PERINATAL-MORTALITY IN WAD-MEDANI-HOSPITAL

Objective: To identify the major causes of perinatal mortality and to determine the main maternal factors which affect perinatal mortality. Design: A prospective study of all perinatal deaths (303) that occurre d during two years, October 1988 - October 1990. Deaths were analyzed according to Wigglesworth classification. Setting: Department of Obste trics and Gynecology, Wad Medani Hospital, Sudan. Results: The most im portant cause of death was asphyxial conditions during labor (60.1%). Almost half of the perinatal deaths (53.5%) weighed 2500 g or more and the rest (46.5%) weighed less than 2500 g. One hundred and one perina tal deaths were born alive and 70% of them died during the first day o f life. Forty-six point two per cent of all mothers of perinatal death s had abnormal deliveries. Fifty-three point eight percent of all moth ers of perinatal deaths were free of maternal diseases during pregnanc y, and asphyxia during labor was the main cause of death among perinat al deaths. Conclusions: All the results of this study highlight the im portance of asphyxia during labor as a major cause of perinatal deaths and hence it is concluded that improvement of obstetric care will hel p reduce the perinatal mortality in Wad Medani Hospital.