Investigating causes of perinatal mortality by verbal autopsy in Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the causes and contributory factors of perinatal mortality by verbal autopsy in Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: Rural and urban areas in six districts in Maharashtra were selected by Probability proportional to size sampling. Verbal autopsies for perinatal deaths were conducted using standard tools and by visiting households; cause of death was assigned according to the International Classification of Diseases-10 using a standard algorithm. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS-11 version software. Results: A total of 83 perinatal deaths (31 stillbirths and 52 early neonatal deaths) were investigated out of which cause of death for perinatal deaths could be assigned in 96.4% deaths. The leading causes of perinatal deaths were prematurity (19.3%) and complications of placenta, cord and membranes (12.9%) among stillbirths, while low birth weight (36%) and prematurity (26%) accounted for early neonatal deaths

Keywords

• Early neonatal deaths
• perinatal deaths
• stillbirths
• verbal autopsy