Perinatal mortality trends in Kwekwe District in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, 2017 – 2020: A Secondary Data Analysis

Introduction: Perinatal mortality comprises of the total number of stillbirths and deaths within the first seven days of life. Kwekwe District reported a 59.92% increase in perinatal deaths from 247 in 2017 to 395 in 2020. This increase has been shadowing the joy of bearing children for many parents...

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Main Authors: Nyashadzashe Cosmas Makova, Mary Muchekeza, Notion Tafara Gombe, Addmore Chadambuka, Tsitsi Patience Juru, Mufuta Tshimanga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: African Field Epidemiology Network 2023-09-01
Series:Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/6/15/full/
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author Nyashadzashe Cosmas Makova
Mary Muchekeza
Notion Tafara Gombe
Addmore Chadambuka
Tsitsi Patience Juru
Mufuta Tshimanga
author_facet Nyashadzashe Cosmas Makova
Mary Muchekeza
Notion Tafara Gombe
Addmore Chadambuka
Tsitsi Patience Juru
Mufuta Tshimanga
author_sort Nyashadzashe Cosmas Makova
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Perinatal mortality comprises of the total number of stillbirths and deaths within the first seven days of life. Kwekwe District reported a 59.92% increase in perinatal deaths from 247 in 2017 to 395 in 2020. This increase has been shadowing the joy of bearing children for many parents. We described the perinatal death trends and determined reasons for high perinatal deaths in Kwekwe District. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using secondary data in Kwekwe District. Key informants were interviewed using guides. We analysed 844 records of perinatal deaths from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020. Epi-info was used to generate frequencies, proportions, medians, graphs and p-values. Results: The median age of the mothers was 24 years (Q1= 20; Q3=31). Perinatal mortality rate (PMR) increased from 28.4 per 1000 births to 35.6 per 1000 births (p=0.038). Most perinatal deaths (75.3%) occurred at Kwekwe General Hospital. Hypertension contributed 59/333 (17.7%) to stillbirths. Birth asphyxia accounted for 210/511 (41.1%) of early neonatal deaths (ENND). First delay contributed 553/844 (62.6%) of the perinatal deaths. Economic challenges resulting in brain drain and lack of essential equipment were mentioned as reasons for the increase in perinatal deaths. Conclusion: The increase in perinatal deaths may have resulted from a decrease in the number of emergency and critical services being offered in the district. The harsh economic environment and inadequate resources contributed to the high perinatal deaths. We recommended provision of adequate equipment to health facilities and provision of non-financial benefits to health workers
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issn 2664-2824
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spelling doaj-art-8b49882e67694feda9cc3b6475ba40db2025-08-20T03:53:52ZengAfrican Field Epidemiology NetworkJournal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health2664-28242023-09-0163https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph.2023.6.3.87Perinatal mortality trends in Kwekwe District in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, 2017 – 2020: A Secondary Data AnalysisNyashadzashe Cosmas Makova0Mary Muchekeza1Notion Tafara Gombe2Addmore Chadambuka3Tsitsi Patience Juru4Mufuta Tshimanga5Department of Primary Health Care Sciences, Global and Public Health Unit, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweKwekwe City Council Department of Health, Kwekwe, ZimbabweDepartment of Primary Health Care Sciences, Global and Public Health Unit, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; African Field Epidemiology Network, Harare, ZimbabweDepartment of Primary Health Care Sciences, Global and Public Health Unit, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweDepartment of Primary Health Care Sciences, Global and Public Health Unit, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweDepartment of Primary Health Care Sciences, Global and Public Health Unit, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweIntroduction: Perinatal mortality comprises of the total number of stillbirths and deaths within the first seven days of life. Kwekwe District reported a 59.92% increase in perinatal deaths from 247 in 2017 to 395 in 2020. This increase has been shadowing the joy of bearing children for many parents. We described the perinatal death trends and determined reasons for high perinatal deaths in Kwekwe District. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using secondary data in Kwekwe District. Key informants were interviewed using guides. We analysed 844 records of perinatal deaths from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020. Epi-info was used to generate frequencies, proportions, medians, graphs and p-values. Results: The median age of the mothers was 24 years (Q1= 20; Q3=31). Perinatal mortality rate (PMR) increased from 28.4 per 1000 births to 35.6 per 1000 births (p=0.038). Most perinatal deaths (75.3%) occurred at Kwekwe General Hospital. Hypertension contributed 59/333 (17.7%) to stillbirths. Birth asphyxia accounted for 210/511 (41.1%) of early neonatal deaths (ENND). First delay contributed 553/844 (62.6%) of the perinatal deaths. Economic challenges resulting in brain drain and lack of essential equipment were mentioned as reasons for the increase in perinatal deaths. Conclusion: The increase in perinatal deaths may have resulted from a decrease in the number of emergency and critical services being offered in the district. The harsh economic environment and inadequate resources contributed to the high perinatal deaths. We recommended provision of adequate equipment to health facilities and provision of non-financial benefits to health workershttps://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/6/15/full/perinatal deathskwekwe districtmidlands provincezimbabwe
spellingShingle Nyashadzashe Cosmas Makova
Mary Muchekeza
Notion Tafara Gombe
Addmore Chadambuka
Tsitsi Patience Juru
Mufuta Tshimanga
Perinatal mortality trends in Kwekwe District in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, 2017 – 2020: A Secondary Data Analysis
Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
perinatal deaths
kwekwe district
midlands province
zimbabwe
title Perinatal mortality trends in Kwekwe District in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, 2017 – 2020: A Secondary Data Analysis
title_full Perinatal mortality trends in Kwekwe District in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, 2017 – 2020: A Secondary Data Analysis
title_fullStr Perinatal mortality trends in Kwekwe District in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, 2017 – 2020: A Secondary Data Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Perinatal mortality trends in Kwekwe District in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, 2017 – 2020: A Secondary Data Analysis
title_short Perinatal mortality trends in Kwekwe District in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, 2017 – 2020: A Secondary Data Analysis
title_sort perinatal mortality trends in kwekwe district in midlands province zimbabwe 2017 2020 a secondary data analysis
topic perinatal deaths
kwekwe district
midlands province
zimbabwe
url https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/6/15/full/
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AT marymuchekeza perinatalmortalitytrendsinkwekwedistrictinmidlandsprovincezimbabwe20172020asecondarydataanalysis
AT notiontafaragombe perinatalmortalitytrendsinkwekwedistrictinmidlandsprovincezimbabwe20172020asecondarydataanalysis
AT addmorechadambuka perinatalmortalitytrendsinkwekwedistrictinmidlandsprovincezimbabwe20172020asecondarydataanalysis
AT tsitsipatiencejuru perinatalmortalitytrendsinkwekwedistrictinmidlandsprovincezimbabwe20172020asecondarydataanalysis
AT mufutatshimanga perinatalmortalitytrendsinkwekwedistrictinmidlandsprovincezimbabwe20172020asecondarydataanalysis