title: Stillbirths at a hospital in Nablus, 2010: a cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stillbirths are insufficiently reported in many countries. In Nablus, reporting has recently started; little is published in Palestine on the stillbirth rate and its risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the rate of stillbirths at Rafidia Hospital in 2010 and some of its risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from the delivery registry for all births and we analysed those with a gestation of 28 weeks or more at Rafidia Hospital. Stillbirth rates were estimated for available determinants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2010, a total of 5,644 women gave birth to 5,782 babies, of whom 41 were stillbirths, that is, a stillbirth rate of 7.1/1,000 births (95% confidence interval 5.2-9.5). Premature babies had a higher risk of being a stillbirth. For small babies, the lower the birth weight the higher was the probability of being a stillbirth, and for babies weighing 4,500 g or more there was a higher risk of being stillborn. The risk of stillbirth was also higher among babies from mothers with high haemoglobin concentration, but low maternal haemoglobin was not associated with stillbirths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stillbirth rates at Rafidia hospital assessed in this study compares favourably with the reported national numbers, indicating a good reliability of the on-going registration. The rates were highest among premature births. Stillbirth was linked to low birth weight, foetal macrosomia, and maternal haemoconcentration. We believe the findings identify areas to address when designing antenatal care with the aim of improving perinatal mortality in the country.
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Tam Giao
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Cung
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Anne Sofie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Paus
authors.affiliation: Rafidia Surgical Hospital, Nablus, Palestine.
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aghbar
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Torvid
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiserud
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Sven.Hinderaker@cih.uib.no.
authors.forename: Sven Gudmund
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hinderaker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins
keywords: Nablus; Palestine; West Bank; birth weight; macrosomia; maternal haemoglobin; prematurity; stillbirth