stillbirths

Background: 800 women die and 2.6 million stillbirths occur worldwide related to pregnancy complications. Racial/ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related mortality have continued to be significantly higher among black than whites due to various factors. We sought to investigate complications among pregnant women of different race/ethnicity.Methods: Cross-sectional observational study of 2030 obstetric cases randomly selected for the period January 1 to December 31, 2021. Data was collected from the hard copy and electronic inpatients’ records. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics analyzed the pregnancy complication frequencies, standard deviations, range, minimum and maximum values. Maternal characteristics were analyzed using an independent samples t-test. Maternal characteristics were evaluated using the two samples t-test. The odds ratios and confidence intervals were calculated as measures of association between ethnicity/race and pregnancy complications using a binary logistic regression model. Confidence interval was set at 95% and p < 0.05 (2-tailed) was considered statistically significant.Results: 76.25% of Chinese and 67.86% of Zambians were affected by one or more complications. The mean ± standard deviation for MGH [age (26.69 ± 7.33), gravidity (3.35 ± 2.08), and parity (2.07 ± 1.68)] and for 2nd affiliated hospital was [age (30.04 ± 4.29), gravidity (2.19 ± 1.38) and parity (0.45 ± 0.55)]. Prevalence of top five pregnancy complications in the Chinese group was gestational diabetes mellitus at 18.41%, hypothyroidism at 15.91%, oligohydramnios at 14.39%, premature rupture of membranes at 12.17%, and anemia at 5.73%. The prevalence of the top five pregnancy complications in the Zambian group was preeclampsia at 13.80%, PIH at 12.74%, PROM at 12.45%, eclampsia at 7.53%, and placenta abruption at 7.43%. Statistical significance findings were noted as follows: Oligohydramnios [OR 0.02, CI (0.01 - 0.05), p = 0.000], placenta praevia [OR 0.08, CI (0.01 - 0.61), p = 0.015], preeclampsia [OR 13.10, CI (7.22 - 23.78), p = 0.000], placenta abruptio [OR 79.73, CI (11.07 - 574.38), p = 0.000], PIH [OR 11.95, CI (6.57 - 21.73), p = 0.005], eclampsia [OR 162.90, CI (10.08 - 2631, p = 0.000), PPROM [OR 0.03, CI (0.00 - 0.45), p = 0.012], GDM [OR 0.11, CI (0.07 - 0.17), p = 0.000], hypothyroidism [OR 0.01(0.00-0.03), p = 0.000], anemia [OR 0.18, CI (0.92-0.34), p = 0.000], ICP [OR 0.03, CI (0.00 - 0.48), p = 0.013], syphilis [OR 7.17, CI (2.14 - 24.02), p = 0.001], UTI [OR 22.55, CI (3.04 - 17.26), p = 0.002], HBV [OR 0.05, CI (0.00 - 0.86), p = 0.039] and GBS [OR 0.06, CI (0.00 - 1.11), p = 0.059].Conclusion: Highest odds for obstetrical and infection-related pregnancy complications were associated with Zambian cases. The highest odds for medical complications were associated with Chinese cases.

Background: Cesarean section at the second stage of labor occurs when the mother requires delivery with full dilatation of the cervix by cesarean section (CS), which poses a risk to the mother and fetus.Purpose: To study the maternal and fetal outcomes of second-stage cesarean section. Methods: This comparative study was conducted at Alhasahisa Teaching Hospital from August 2021 to January 2022. The study sample comprised 226 women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, including 113 who delivered by second-stage cesarean section and 113 who delivered by first-stage labor cesarean section as controls. Data were collected using a questionnaire filled out by doctors after informed consent was obtained. Results: The common indications in women who delivered via second-stage cesarean section were fetal distress in 62(51.9%), obstructed labor in 26(23%), and failure to progress in 25(22.1%). In women who underwent first-stage cesarean section, the common indications were failure to progress in 85(75.2%), fetal distress in 16(14.2%), and chorioamnionitis in 12(10.6%) (p < 0.05).  The reported maternal complications in women who underwent second-stage cesarean section were postpartum hemorrhage in 34(30.1%), sepsis in 11(9.7%), prolonged labor in eight (7.1%), extended tears in four (3.5%), umbilical cord prolapse in three (2.7%), and episiotomy in three (2.7%). The admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the causes of admission were more common among the babies of the women delivered by second-stage cesarean section than the babies of the women delivered by first-stage cesarean section (p value < 0.05). Maternal complications in women who underwent second-stage cesarean section included postpartum hemorrhage in 34(30.1%), sepsis in 11(9.7%), prolonged labor in 8(7.1%), uterine extension in 4(3.5%), umbilical cord prolapse in 3(2.7%), and episiotomy in 3(2.7%) (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Second-stage labor cesarean section showed more complications of postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis, and extended tears, as well as more fetal complications, such as admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, fresh stillbirths, low Apgar scores, and birth asphyxia.

Background: Stillbirth (SB), either because of intrauterine or intrapartum fetal death, is amongst the most devastating pregnancy complications, hardest to predict, real challenge for health systems. India probably accounts for the highest SB numbers in the world.Objectives: A community-based prospective study was carried out to know the burden, and causes of SBs in rural women of remote region.Material methods: After approval of the ethics committee of the Institute in Maharashtra for broader research, which was service-oriented, the present study was conducted in 100 villages around the village with health facilities. These villages were included keeping in mind future services. After obtaining the consent of women, information was prospectively recorded on their predesigned tool (which was for broader work), by asking women and seeing their records of antenatal and intranatal care on a regular basis. The study subjects were selected after obtaining information from nurse midwives, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), and Aaganwadi workers. As the plan was to serve, there was excellent cooperation. The tool was made for broader work. Villages were visited 5 days a week. Study was community-based in villages in remote, hilly region with various local issues so any information the women gave conclusion and was in the record was used.Results: A total of 3905 births occurred over two years, 3635 (93%) term, and 270 (7%) preterm. Amongst 3635 term births, 3474 (95.6%) were live births, 161 (4.4%) SBs, amongst 270 preterm births, 239 (88.5%) were live births, 31 (11.5%) SBs. Of 192 SBs, 48 (7.2%) SBs were amongst 2690 women with anaemia, (16 (2.4%) SBs amongst women with very severe anaemia, 12 (1.8%) SBs were amongst 667 women with severe anaemia, 12 (1.8%) SBs were amongst 664 women with moderate anaemia, 8 (1.2%) SBs were amongst 680 women with mild anaemia). Overall of 192 (4.9%) SBs, 31 (18.1%) SBs were among 517 women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDsP) 8 (4.4%) SBs amongst 280 women with moderate HDsP, 12 (6.9%) SBs amongst 175 women with severe HDsP, 11 (6.8%) SBs in 62 women with eclampsia. Overall of 192 SBs, 6 (3.1%) babies had weight < 1 kg, 8 (4.1%) of ≥ 1 to < 1.5 kg, 50 (26.0%) ≥ 1.5 to < 2 kg, 64 (33.3%) ≥ 2 to < 2.5 kg, 64 (33.3%) 2.5 kg and more, obviously fewer babies more deaths in birth weight less than 1. 5 kg, more so less than 1 kg.Conclusion: Overall SBs were in women with disorders but 4.5% SBs did occur in women with no disorder. SBs were significantly higher amongst babies weighing less than 1 kg, beyond this weight, numbers were similar.