Term infant asphyxia in Kuwait.
In the developing nation of Kuwait, we undertook a case-control study of 43 consecutively born, asphyxiated, term infants. The asphyxia incidence of 9.4/1000 was only slightly higher than that in more developed countries. Severe morbidity occurred in 1.1/1000, and mortality in 1.1/1000. We found significant associations between asphyxia and primiparity, maternal hypertension, consanguinity, increased length of labour, and instrumental deliveries. Maternal age, socio-economic class, maternal illnesses other than diabetes, and breech delivery did not seem to play a role. The fact that the chosen method of delivery failed for a number of the asphyxiated patients, necessitating emergency Caesarian section, suggests that obstetric factors may need closer analysis.
al-Alfy
A
A
Maternity Hospital, Kuwait.
Carroll
J E
JE
Devarajan
L V
LV
Moussa
M A
MA
D001034:Apgar Score; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic