COMPARISON OF FETAL DEMISE CASE SERIES DRAWN FROM SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISTINCT COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY

Abstract

The causes of stillbirth were investigated in two case series drawn from distinct communities within the same geographic region in New Jersey, one characterized by affluence (Hackensack Medical Center, Bergen County) and one by poverty (University Hospital, Essex County). The data was obtained over 4 years (1998–2001) from a stillbirth autopsy service available to all obstetrics-gynecology clinicians in the northern New Jersey area. A total of 52 stillbirths from University Hospital in Newark (Essex County) and 55 from Hackensack Medical Center (Bergen County) were examined by this same autopsy service. Cause(s) were identified for 70% of stillbirth cases. Whereas population-based data revealed that the rate of stillbirths was higher in Essex and mothers of stillbirths in Essex were of younger age, greater parity, and gravidity and had higher rates of smoking, single marital status, and very low birth weight infants, the only significant difference between the two case series was infection, detected in 35% of stillbirths from University Hospital versus 14% from Hackensack. Also no difference in the incidence of stillbirth due to unknown cause was found between the case series.

Keywords:

• stillbirth
• epidemiology
• pediatric autopsy
• fetal demise
• health disparity