Risk factors for stillbirths in a secondary level hospital at Ballabgarh, Haryana: A case control study

Abstract

This study was conducted at a secondary level hospital at Ballabgarth, run by Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The still birth rate during the study period 1987–1992 was 19.5 per 1,000 births. It showed a sudden decline during these six years probably reflecting the change in the admission policy of the hospital. A case control study of 72 still births and 144 controls was carried out to identify risk factors for still births. Maternal age, gravidity, previous history of still births or abortion were not found to be significantly associated with still births. Poor socio-economic status measured by parental literacy and occupation were significantly associated with still births. Lack of antenatal care [(OR 9.2 (2.5–37.9)], low birth weight (<2500 gms) [OR-18.1 (4.4–74.5)], non-vertex presentation [(OR 41.2 (66–257.3)], maternal illiteracy [OR 2.75 (1.01–11.3)] were found to be the important predictors of still birth as identified by logistic regression analysis. The provision of good antenatal care and improvement of the socioeconomic status, especially female literacy, will help in decreasing the still birth rate in the country.