J Shrestha^1,, R Shrestha¹, R Tuladhar¹, S Basnet²

Perinatal mortality rate of Nepal is high indicating poor obstetrics and neonatal care services in the country. Identifying the causes of perinatal deaths would help in identifying the avoidable deaths so that timely interventions can be implemented in future. This study was conducted with the aim of finding out the perinatal mortality rate and its causes at our centre, Manipal Teaching hospital. This is a prospective observational type of study. Perinatal deaths after 28 weeks of gestation and weighing more than 1 kg and neonatal deaths within one week of birth were included. Maternal and neonatal characteristics were studied. Perinatal deaths were classified according to Aberdeen classification of perinatal deaths. Results indicated perinatal mortality rate of 37.6 per 1000 births with more than 60% stillbirths. Mechanical factors during intrapartum period (21.5%) and neonatal factors like prematurity, meconium aspiration and sepsis (22.4%) were major causes of the perinatal mortality. Almost 24% of the perinatal deaths were unexplained and these occurred in macerated stillbirths. Therefore, focus should be on providing quality antenatal care and strict intrapartum surveillance as well as neonatal care to bring down the perinatal deaths. Autopsy should be considered when cause of death is unexplained.

Perinatal Mortality, Stillbirth, Early Neonatal Deaths, Obstetric Classification Perinatal Deaths