title: Modifiable antenatal risk factors for stillbirth amongst pregnant women in the Omusati region, Namibia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reduction of stillbirth rates is important because of the social and economic implications. Access to quality antenatal care is important in preventing the risk factors associated with stillbirth.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of modifiable antenatal risk factors associated with stillbirth so as to determine possible gaps in their prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at four district hospitals in the Omusati Region of Namibia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study using recorded antenatal data was used. Data were collected from the records of 82 women at the time that they had a stillbirth, during the period October 2013 to December 2014. Data were collected for modifiable risk factors related to maternal characteristics, antenatal care received, medical conditions and obstetric complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average prevalence of each category of risk factors was as follows: quality of antenatal care (19.8%), maternal characteristics (11.4%), medical conditions (8.9%) and obstetric complications (6.5%). The most prevalent individual risk factors included: no folate supplementation (30.5%), HIV infection (25.6%), late booking (16.7%), intrauterine foetal growth retardation (13.4%) and alcohol use (12.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amongst the 14 modifiable risk factor included in the present study, 11 (78.6%) were prevalent amongst women who had a stillbirth. Risk factors associated with quality of antenatal care were the most prevalent. Whilst further investigation is needed to determine the causes behind this prevalence, health education on the availability and benefits of antenatal care, pregnancy timing and spacing may contribute to reducing the prevalence of these risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Family Medicine, Stellenbosch University. desitshi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Desire D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Tshibumbu
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blitz
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009276:Namibia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: Stillbirth; modifiable risk factors; pregnant women; Omusati region; Namibia.