Determinants of Stillbirth Among Deliveries Attended at Public Hospitals of Southwest Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background: During the past 20 years, there have been 48 million stillbirths worldwide. One of the most common adverse pregnancy outcomes in developing nations, such as Ethiopia, is stillbirth. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the factors that contribute to stillbirths among babies born in Ethiopia's Southwest Shoa Zone. Methods: Three hundred and two research participants were included in the hospital-based unmatched case-control study. The data extraction checklist was used to collect data from the medical records. To identify the determinants of stillbirth, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used. The determinants of the stillbirth were identified in the multivariate logistic regression analysis with a p-value of less than 0.05% and 95% CI. Results: A total of 302 maternal charts were reviewed, yielding a 100% response rate. Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (AOR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.2–9.2), antepartum hemorrhage (AOR: 5.8, 95% CI: 2.1–15.9), a referral from other health facilities (AOR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.4–5.3), obstructed labor (AOR: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.9–7.8), duration of labor > 24 h. (AOR: 4.7, 95% CI: 2.3–9.6), gestational age < 37 weeks (AOR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1.7–7.4) and congenital defect (AOR: 6.9, 95% CI: 2.4–19.7) were determinants of still birth. Conclusion: This study highlights that obstetric complications, gestational age, congenital abnormalities, and low birth weight were determinants of stillbirth. Addressing these challenges requires early identification and management of high-risk pregnancies through enhanced prenatal screening, strengthening antenatal care services, promoting facility-based deliveries, and equipping healthcare providers with skills to manage complications.