Pregnancy Outcome in Rural Ethiopia With Emphasis to Perinatal Mortality
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Date
1997-12
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
A prospective community-based study of pregnant women was
conducted to assess pregnancy outcome with emphasis to perinatal mortal ity in
rural communities of Meskan and Mareko district in Gurage zone in Southern
Eth iop ia, between March 22 and August 2 1, 1997. Pregnant women were
identified by trained enumerators through house - to - house visit and were
followed month Iy till del ivery, after wh ich both the neonates and the mothers
were visited at 7th and 28th days. Pretes ted standard questionnaires were used
to obtain information on socio-demograph ic characteristics, past obstetric
history, health problems during the index pregnancy and labour, and the
condition of both the neonates and the mothers at the 7th and 28th days.
Analysis made on 428 singleton births showed a perinatal mortality rate of
44.4 per 1000 births. The stillbirth and early neonatal mortality rates were
21.0 per 1000 births and 23.9 per 1000 live births, respectively. The rates
were found to be relatively low as compared to figures reported for other sub-
Saharan Africa. Both bivariate and multivariate analysis showed that maternal
height and gestational age were significantly associated with perinatal
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mortality. The risk of death was signif icantly higher among neonates born to
short statured mothers. Similarly the risk of perinatal death was higher in
preterm babies than term babies. Establishment of emergency obstetric care
(EOC) alongside with training of traditional birth attendants and educating
mothers for appropriate utilization of MCH services are recommended.
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Pregnancy Outcome in Rural Ethiopia