TITLE:
Prevalence and Predictors of Stillbirths Following Vaginal Delivery at the Tumu Municipality of the Upper West Region, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study Design
AUTHORS:
Pascal Deeshini Aliu Alhassan, Martin Muonibe Beru, Eugene Sackeya, Richard Nomo Angmortey, Andrews Akpah-Suka, Abdul-Samii Danaa Alhassan, Mohammed Hafiz Kanamu, Baba Sulemana Mohammed
KEYWORDS:
Prevalence, Predictors, Stillbirths, Vaginal Delivery, Ghana
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.6,
June
30,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Low- and middle-income countries still have unacceptably high rates that make it imperative to identify local factors that predict stillbirths to effectively develop interventions. The study aimed to identify the prevalence and predictors of stillbirths among singleton pregnant mothers who gave birth in health facilities in the Tumu municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Methods: Using a retrospective cross-sectional study design, 1168 women who had vaginal deliveries had their medical records reviewed. From January 1 to December 31, 2019, information on vaginal deliveries was gathered from hospital records. The data were summarised using descriptive statistics, and the relationship between maternal and obstetric characteristics and stillbirths was investigated using Pearson’s chi-square/Fisher’s exact test. To evaluate the predictors of stillbirth, a logistic regression analysis was fitted at a 95% confidence interval (95% CI), and the results were reported using an odds ratio. Results: Among the 1168 women, 614 (52.57%) were within the age group of 20 - 29 years; 804 (68.84%) of mothers were multigravida, and 852 (72.95%) attended ANC between 4 to 8 times. The overall prevalence of stillbirths was 12.80 per 1000 total births. Women who attended ANC between 4 - 8 times were 93% less likely to record a stillbirth (AOR 0.07 (0.017 - 0.294) p-value ≤ 0.001). Women whose labour was not monitored using a partograph were more than 15 times likely to record a stillbirth (AOR 15.54, 95% CL: 4.335 - 55.722, p-value ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: The overall stillbirth rate was 12.80 per 1000 live births, with better outcomes for pregnant women who attend ANC 4 - 8 times. The likelihood of stillbirths in labor without partograph monitoring is more than 15 times higher compared with those with partograph monitoring. Refresher training on partograph use and regular ANC attendance are recommended.