Incidence of and factors associated with meconium staining of the amniotic fluid in a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital

Summary

This study was conducted to determine the incidence of meconium staining of the amniotic fluid (MSAF) and its associated factors in a Nigerian teaching hospital. Perinatal data on 80 consecutive live, singleton infants of booked mothers born through meconium-stained liquor from March – June 2003 were analysed and compared with babies born through clear liquor. The incidence of MSAF was 20.4% for 393 deliveries. The rate increased with gestational age: no case was found below 37 weeks (p = 0.001). Primiparity, prolonged rupture of fetal membranes and obstructed labour were more often associated with MSAF (p = 0.005, p = 0.0013 and p = 0.0000002, respectively) as were tachycardia or bradycardia and low Apgar scores (p = 0.0000001 and p = 0.046, respectively). It is concluded that meconium-staining is common. It is related to gestational maturity and stressful peripartum conditions and associated with adverse symptomatology in the fetus and newborn.