MATERNAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BIRTH ASPHYXIA.

Background: Birth asphyxia is the failure to initiate and sustain breathing at birth as a result of hypoxia and ischemia, assessed on Apgar score of 0-3 at 5 minutes or later, acid base status by fetal scalp pH. Objective: To determine the frequency of maternal factors responsible for birth asphyxia. Material and Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study has been conducted at department of perinatology, National Institute of Child Health, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi. From 28th January 2015 to 27th July 2015. A total of 196 mothers of asphyxiated newborn babies of either gender were enrolled. A detailed clinical history with possible factors leading to asphyxia along their biodata including age, parity and education were taken on predesigned proforma. Results: The mean maternal age was 32.53±7.23 years with mean parity was 2.68±1.29 and gravidity was 3.30±1.48. The mean no. of antenatal visits was 7.32±1.11. Multiple pregnancies were observed in 11.2% mothers, vaginal bleeding was observed in 56.1% mothers, meconium stained liquor in 71.9% mothers, prolong rupture of membrane >18 hours was found in 86.7% mothers, presentation other than cephalic was positive in 26.0% mothers, anemia was positive in 41.8%, edema in 10.7%, and hypertension in 14.3% mothers. Conclusion: The maternal risk factor for the birth asphyxia observed more frequent were improper antenatal visits, maternal age, prolonged rupture of membrane, meconium stained liquor, anemia, vaginal bleeding, and caesarian section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]