Prevalence and Predictors of Stillbirths Following Vaginal Delivery at the Tumu Municipality of the Upper West Region, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study Design
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.
Cite this paper
Alhassan, P. D. A. , Beru, M. M. , Sackeya, E. , Angmortey, R. N. , Akpah-Suka, A. , Alhassan, A. D. , Kanamu, M. H. and Mohammed, B. S. (2025). Prevalence and Predictors of Stillbirths Following Vaginal Delivery at the Tumu Municipality of the Upper West Region, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study Design. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e3585. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113585.
Abebe, H., Shitu, S., Workye, H. and Mose, A. (2021) Predictors of Stillbirth among Women Who Had Given Birth in South-ern Ethiopia, 2020: A Case-Control Study. PLOS ONE, 16, e0249865. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249865
Blencowe, H., Cousens, S., Jassir, F.B., Say, L., Chou, D., Mathers, C., et al. (2016) National, Regional, and Worldwide Estimates of Stillbirth Rates in 2015, with Trends from 2000: A Systematic Analysis. The Lancet Global Health, 4, e98-e108. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(15)00275-2
Tiruneh, D. and Asegid, A. (2019) Mothers Experiences with Still Birth: A Dead Fetus as A’tax’ Given to Allah: Qualitative Phenomenological Study. International Journal of Pregnancy & Child Birth, 5, 160-165. https://doi.org/10.15406/ipcb.2019.05.00168
Der, E.M., Sutaa, F., Azongo, T.B. and Kubio, C. (2016) Stillbirths at the West Gonja Hospital in Northern Ghana. Journal of Medical and Biomedical Sciences, 5, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.4314/jmbs.v5i1.1
Neogi, S.B., Sharma, J., Negandhi, P., Chauhan, M., Reddy, S. and Sethy, G. (2018) Risk Factors for Stillbirths: How Much Can a Responsive Health System Prevent? BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18, Article No. 33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1660-1
Liu, L., Wang, Y., Yu, M. and Su, H. (2014) Major Risk Factors for Stillbirth in Different Trimesters of Pregnancy—A Systematic Review. Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 53, 141-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjog.2014.04.003
UNICEF (2018) Briefing Notes on SDG global Indicators Related to Children. https://data.unicef.org/resources/briefing-notes-on-sdg-global-indicators-related-to-children/
Roberts, L., Renati, S.J., Solomon, S. and Montgomery, S. (2021) Stillbirth and Infant Death: Mental Health among Low-Income Mothers in Mumbai. BMC Preg-nancy and Childbirth, 21, Article No. 292. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03754-0
Hug, L., You, D., Blencowe, H., Mishra, A., Wang, Z., Fix, M.J., et al. (2021) Global, Regional, and National Estimates and Trends in Stillbirths from 2000 to 2019: A Systematic Assessment. The Lancet, 398, 772-785. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01112-0
Aminu, M., Bar‐Zeev, S. and van den Broek, N. (2017) Cause of and Factors Associated with Stillbirth: A Systematic Review of Classification Systems. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scan-dinavica, 96, 519-528. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13126
Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) Ghana Health Service (GHS) and ICF (2023) Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2022: Key Indicators Report. GSS ICF, 5-24.
Sharma, B., Prasad, G., Aggarwal, N., Siwatch, S., Suri, V. and Kakkar, N. (2019) Aetiology and Trends of Rates of Stillbirth in a Tertiary Care Hospital in the North of India over 10 Years: A Retrospective Study. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 126, 14-20. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.15850
Christou, A., Alam, A., Sadat Hofiani, S.M., Rasooly, M.H., Mubasher, A., Rashidi, M.K., et al. (2020) Understanding Pathways Leading to Stillbirth: The Role of Care-Seeking and Care Received during Pregnancy and Childbirth in Kabul Province, Afghanistan. Women and Birth, 33, 544-555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2020.02.012
Christou, A., Mbishi, J., Matsui, M., Beňová, L., Kim, R., Numazawa, A., et al. (2023) Stillbirth Rates and Their Determinants in a National Maternity Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cam-bodia in 2017-2020: A Cross-Sectional Assessment with a Nested Case-Control Study. Reproductive Health, 20, Article No. 157. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-023-01703-y
Komboigo, B.E., Zamane, H., Coulibaly, A., Sib, S.R., Thiombiano, M. and Thieba, B. (2023) Factors Associated with Intrapartum Stillbirth in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Burkina Faso. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 4, 3-8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2023.1038817
Okunowo, A. and Smith-Okonu, S. (2020) The Trend and Characteristics of Stillbirth Delivery in a University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Ni-geria. Annals of African Medicine, 19, Article No. 221. https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_44_19
Skytte, T.B., Holm-Hansen, C.C., Ali, S.M., Ame, S., Molenaar, J., Greisen, G., et al. (2023) Risk Factors of Stillbirths in Four District Hospi-tals on Pemba Island, Tanzania: A Prospective Cohort Study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23, Article No. 288. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05613-6
Tesema, G.A., Gezie, L.D. and Nigatu, S.G. (2020) Trends of Stillbirth among Reproductive-Age Women in Ethi-opia Based on Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys: A Multivariate Decomposition Analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20, Article No. 193. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02880-5
Gourbin, C. and Masuy-Stroobant, G. (1995) Registration of Vital Data: Are Live Births and Still-Births Comparable All over Europe? Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 73, 449-460.
Strand, R.T., de Campos, P.A., Paulsson, G., de Oliveira, J. and Bergström, S. (2009) Audit of Referral of Obstetric Emergencies in Angola: A Tool for Assessing Quality of Care. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 13, 75-85.
Kadapatti, M.G. and Vijayalaxmi, A.H.M. (2012) Antenatal Care the Essence of New Born Weight and In-fant Development. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2, 2-5.
