A PROSPECTIVE AUTOPSY STUDY OF THE CAUSES OF PERINATAL AND UNDER-FIVE MORTALITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL (U.B.T.H.), BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Abstract

Introduction/Aim: Perinatal and childhood mortality is a global health burden with an
estimated 8.1 million under-five deaths in 2009. The highest rates of child mortality is in sub
Saharan Africa and South East Asia. The millennium development goal four (MDG-4) which
targets the reduction of childhood mortality by two thirds from 1990 to 2015 can only be
realizable if adequate and accurate epidemiological information is available to prioritize,
plan, and implement public health interventions. Autopsy validation of cause of death
information is one way of improving accuracy of our vital statistics.
Materials and Method: the study was a one year (January to December 2012) prospective
autopsy study of all the perinatal and under-five mortalities for which an informed consent
was duly obtained. All autopsies were performed according to a defined working protocol
Results: There were a total of 2967 deliveries recorded in UBTH for the year 2012 with a
perinatal mortality rate of 119.2/1000 total births while the under-five mortality rate is
103.8/1000 live births. The perinatal autopsy rate is 50.3% while the under-five autopsy rate
is 44.9%. the overall male to female ratio is 1.14:1. The most common causes of perinatal
death are infection (30.3%), placental causes (20.6%), and prematurity/immaturity (16.0%).
Congenital anomalies accounted for 10.9% of deaths. Respiratory and cardiovascular
disorders specific to the perinatal period accounted for most under-five deaths (24.7%),
infections were responsible for 18.4%, while prematurity was responsible for 14.4% of
under-five deaths. Conclusion: This study shows that perinatal and childhood
mortality is still a major problem in our environment. We would suggest that a
multidisciplinary perinatal death team be put in place with a perinatal death protocol that will
institutionalize perinatal autopsies.

A PROSPECTIVE AUTOPSY STUDY OF THE CAUSES OF PERINATAL AND UNDER-FIVE MORTALITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL (U.B.T.H.), BENIN CITY, NIGERIA