Factors associated with perinatal mortality in Mbale regional referral hospital:

Abstract

Globally, 2.6 million babies die annually during perinatal period. Majority, (95%) occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) posing a significant public health problem. The East African regional perinatal mortality was 34.5%, Uganda was 38% while Mbale was 41%. Understanding factors associated with perinatal mortality in Mbale was studied and will guide policy formulation and improved local clinical practice. Objectives: To describe factors associated with perinatal mortality in Mbale regional referral hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mbale regional referral hospital from August 2022 – December 2022. Three hundred sixty-eight (368) participants were consecutively enrolled into the study. The primary outcome was perinatal mortality, which included stillbirths and early neonatal deaths. Other factors like pre-term births, birth asphyxia and birth trauma were also believed to be contributing to perinatal mortality. We used Stata 15 (Stata Corp, 2015) and carried out logistic regression to measure the association between the independent variables (maternal, health system and newborn characteristics) and dependent variable (perinatal mortality) at 95% confidence interval and p-value of 0.05 Results: About 1 in 10 [42/370(11%)] mothers delivered babies who died during the perinatal period, translating to a perinatal mortality rate of 113 babies per 1000 births. The risk factors included newborn infections [AOR 4.8,95% CI - (1.2, 17.5)] and babies born with Apgar score less than 7 [AOR 0.02, 95% CI - (0.005, 0.1)]. Thess factors were significantly associated with perinatal mortality at multivariable analysis. However, occupation [AOR 0.2,95% CI - (0.1, 0.8)], was protective. Conclusion and recommendations: Newborn infections and Apgar score < 7 were the significant factors associated with perinatal mortality in Mbale regional referral hospital. Attending the recommended ANC visits, delivering in established health facilities, being employed and producing babies with Apgar score >7, reduced perinatal mortality.