Skip Navigation

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 1996 42(4):192-195; doi:10.1093/tropej/42.4.192
© 1996 by Oxford University Press
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (1)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hall, D. R.
Right arrow Articles by Smith, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hall, D. R.
Right arrow Articles by Smith, J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

research-article

Maternal Factors Contributing to Asphyxia Neonatorum

David R. Hall, MMed, FCOG*,, Mariette Smith, B.Sc.(Hons)** and Johan Smith, MMed***

*Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Hospital Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa
**MRC Perinatal Mortality Research Unit
***Department of Paediatrics, University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Hospital Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa

Correspondence: Dr David Hall (Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 19081, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa

The objective was to identify maternal risk factors for birth asphyxia, and took the form of a retrospective study over 3 years of 15,964 deliveries.

The antenatal and intrapartnm course of 68 mothers who delivered babies with birth asphyxia was studied. Babies <34 weeks/≤2000 g at birth were excluded. A 5-min Apgar score <6 was regarded as abnormal.

The incidence of asphyxia neonatorum was 4.6/1000. Most mothers (76 per cent), resided locally, booked (91 per cent), and had satisfactory antenatal clinic attendance (average seven visits). The distribution showed a disproportionately large number of grand multiparas (10 per cent). Labour was characterized by prolonged first (49 per cent) and second (36 per cent) stages with a high incidence of meconium in the amniotic fluid (47 per cent). Most deliveries (53 per cent) were by caesarian section of which 44 per cent were performed for fetal distress. Meconium aspiration was common (34 per cent).

High risk signs in labour can be recognized. The Judicious use of the partogram, fetal scalp blood pH, and amino-infusion are encouraged.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.