title: Maternal sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors of antepartum fetal death.
abstract: The objectives of this study were to assess the sociodemographic profile and to identify the risk factors of ante-partum fetal death which occurs after the age of viability of fetus. This prospective observational study was conducted in the Obstetrics department of Ad-din Women Medical College Hospital during the period of June, 2009 to July, 2010. A total of 14,015 pregnant patients were admitted in the study place after the age of viability, which was taken as 28 weeks of gestation for our facilities. Eighty-three (0.59%) of them were identified as intrauterine fetal death. Assessment of maternal sociodemographic characteristics and maternal-fetal risk factors were evaluated with a semi structured questionnaire pretested. Majority (81.92%, n=68) of the patients were below 30 years of age, 78.31% belonged to middle socioeconomic group. Almost 58% women had education below SSC level and 28.91% took regular antenatal checkup. About 61.45% patients were multigravida. Most (59.04%) ante-partum deaths were identified below 32 weeks of pregnancy. Out of 83 patients, maternal risk factors were identified in 41(49.59%) cases where fetal risk factors were found in 16(19.27%) cases; no risk factors could be determined in rests. Hypertension (48.78%), diabetes (21.95%), hyperpyrexia (17.3%), abruptio placentae (4.88%) and UTI (7.36%) were identified as maternal factors; and congenital anomaly (37.5%), Rh incompatibility (37.5%), multiple pregnancy (12.5%) and post-maturity (12.5%) were the fetal risk factors. Here, proximal biological risk factors are most important in ante-partum fetal deaths. More investigations and facilities are needed to explain the causes of antepartum deaths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Ad-din Women Medical College Hospital, Moghbazaar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. profazim35@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Azim
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azim
mesh_terms: D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D020073:Gravidity; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*