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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Aetiology of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in rural Ghana: Implications for health programming in developing countries
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Volume 22, No. 5, Year 2008
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Description
In developing countries many stillbirths and neonatal deaths occur at home and cause of death is not recorded by national health information systems. A community-level verbal autopsy tool was used to obtain data on the aetiology of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in rural Ghana. Objectives were to describe the timing and distribution of causes of stillbirths and neonatal deaths according to site of death (health facility or home). Data were collected from 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2004; 20 317 deliveries, 696 stillbirths and 623 neonatal deaths occurred over that time. Most deaths occurred in the antepartum period (28 weeks gestation to the onset of labour) (33.0%). However, the highest risk periods were during labour and delivery (intrapartum period) and the first day of life. Infections were a major cause of death in the antepartum (10.1%) and neonatal (40.3%) periods. The most important cause of intrapartum death was obstetric complications (59.3%). There were significantly fewer neonatal deaths resulting from birth asphyxia in the home than in the health facilities and more deaths from infection. Only 59 (20.7%) mothers of neonates who died at home reported that they sought care from an appropriate health care provider (doctor, nurse or health facility) during their baby's illness. The results from this study highlight the importance of studying community-level data in developing countries and the high risk of intrapartum stillbirths and infectious diseases in the rural African mother and neonate. Community-level interventions are urgently needed, especially interventions that reduce intrapartum deaths and infection rates in the mother and infant. © 2008 The Authors.
Authors & Co-Authors
Edmond, Karen Margaret
Unknown Affiliation
Quigley, Maria A.
Unknown Affiliation
Zandoh, Charles
Unknown Affiliation
Danso, Samuel O.
Unknown Affiliation
Hurt, Chris Nicholas
Unknown Affiliation
Agyei, Seth Owusu
Unknown Affiliation
Kirkwood, Betty R.
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 110
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1365-3016.2008.00961.x
ISSN:
02695022
e-ISSN:
13653016
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Study Locations
Ghana