Factors Related to Late Intrauterine Fetal Death in a Tertiary Referral Center: A Retrospective Study

  • Sandip Kuikel Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu nepal
  • Preezma Shrestha Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu nepal
  • Sunita Bajracharya Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu nepal
  • Sagar Poudel Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu nepal
  • Bijay Thapa Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu nepal

Abstract

Background: Intrauterine fetal death is a contributor of perinatal outcome and is an
important indicator of the quality of antenatal care. Despite efforts, risk factors cannot
be identified in cases of intrauterine fetal deaths. This study aims to identify the maternal,
fetal, placental and cord related factors related to it.
Methods: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted analyzing patients admitted
with intrauterine fetal deaths after 28 weeks of pregnancy at Tribhuwan University Teaching
Hospital from April 2019 to March 2020 using in hospital admission records of the patient.
It was conducted after taking ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee(IRC)
of Institute of Medicine (IOM). Data were collected from review of charts of individual
patients in MS Excel and was analyzed using SPSS.
Results: There were 5496 births and 46 intrauterine fetal deaths during the study period
giving stillbirth rate of 8 per 1000 births. It was common in the age group of 26-30 years
(34.8%), 62.2% were from inside Kathmandu valley,43.5% were just literate, 13% were
illiterate, 84.8% were housewives, 56.5% were primigravida and 69.57% of the babies were
preterm. Only four percent had previous history of intra uterine fetal deaths. Hypertensive
disorders complicating pregnancy were found in 30.5% followed by heart disease in 10.9%
of the mothers. There were no known co-morbidities in 26.1% of the patients. Out of total
46 cases, 62% were female and 38% were male. Two had Rh isoimmunization and four had
congenital malformations. Placenta previa was seen in four percent and abruptio placenta
in two percent. Twin pregnancy with diamniotic dichorionic placenta was present in four
percent. Seventeen percent of the babies had cord around the neck and two percent had
thrombosis of the umbilical cord.
Conclusion: Low level of maternal education and maternal comorbidities like hypertensive
disorders complicating pregnancy were found to be most common factors seen in cases
of intrauterine fetal deaths.

Published
2021-08-21
How to Cite
Kuikel, S., Shrestha, P., Bajracharya, S., Poudel, S., & Thapa, B. (2021). Factors Related to Late Intrauterine Fetal Death in a Tertiary Referral Center: A Retrospective Study. Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences, 3(1), 34-39. Retrieved from http://nepmed.nhrc.gov.np/index.php/EJMS/article/view/989
Section
Original Articles

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