Epidemiology of stillbirth and strategies for its prevention in Vietnam.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To describe major epidemiologic and placental findings regarding stillbirth in Vietnam.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study of all stillbirths in a tertiary referral facility in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was performed. Detailed examination of each infant, placental pathology, and semi-structured maternal interviews were conducted according to the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Perinatal Death Classification guidelines. Maternal, fetal, and placental characteristics were examined.

RESULTS:

Between December 8, 2008, and January 9, 2009, there were 4694 live births and 122 stillbirths at the facility. In total, 107 (87.7%) cases were included in the study. Low education level was associated with a lack of prenatal care; induced abortion accounted for 34.6% of fetal deaths (gender selection was not the reason); 35.5% of infants were born at 22-28 weeks of gestation; 31.8% of stillbirths were small for gestational age; histologic evidence of chorioamnionitis was present in 40.2% of cases. Calcium supplements were less likely to have been taken in cases in which death from hypertension occurred. alpha-Thalassemia was the main cause of fetal hydrops (6.2%).

CONCLUSION:

Improving access to prenatal care and prenatal calcium and iron supplementation, and screening for congenital abnormalities and alpha-thalassemia may help to reduce rates of perinatal death in Vietnam.

• Authors: Jane E Hirst, Susan M Arbuckle, Trong M H Do, Lieu T T Ha, Heather E Jeffery
• Journal: International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Int J Gynaecol Obstet) Vol. 110 Issue 2 Pg. 109-13 (Aug 2010) ISSN: 1879-3479 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20553788 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Crown Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Abortion, Induced (statistics & numerical data)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Chorioamnionitis (epidemiology, pathology)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Gestational Age
• Hospitals, Maternity (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Small for Gestational Age
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pregnancy
• Rural Population (statistics & numerical data)
• Stillbirth (epidemiology)
• Urban Population
• Vietnam (epidemiology)
• Young Adult