Risk factors for stillbirth after 28 complete weeks of gestation

Abstract

Purpose

To identify the risk factors for stillbirth (SB).

Material and methods

This case-control study was carried out between 1 December 2019 and 30 April 2020. Women whose fetuses died after the 28^th week of gestation, but before delivery and women whose newborns were alive and healthy after delivery were examined. The main variables recorded included maternal age, educational level, medical and obstetrical past histories, number of antenatal visits, whether the woman was referred or not, body mass index (BMI), and sex of newborn. Fisher exact test, t-test and logistic regression were used for comparison. p < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Our frequency of SB was 54/1000 births (63 SB out of 1167 deliveries). Significant risk factors for SB were referred parturient (aOR = 7.76, 95%CI = 2.84–21.20), past-history of SB (aOR = 6.54, 95%CI = 1.27–33.63), primary school educational level (aOR = 5.60, 95%CI = 3.63–9.06), pregnancy followed up by a general practitioner (aOR = 5.38, 95%CI = 1.13–25.65 and BMI ≥30kg/m² (aOR = 3.51, 95%CI = 1.32–9.38).

Conclusion

When the above-identified risk factors are present, pregnancy and delivery should be well followed up, if we want to reduce the frequency of SB.

Keywords:

• Past-history of stillbirth
• primary school education
• referred parturient
• risk factors
• stillbirth

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.