Abstract
Background: Birth injury is defined as structural damage of a newborn secondary to mechanical forces that occur during labor and/or delivery. This study determined the incidence, risk factors and outcome of birth injury. Methodology: This was an observational study of birth injuries in neonates, over a period of one year, carried out at a tertiary hospital in Enugu, south east, Nigeria. Results: Out of the 1,735 births recorded during the period of the study, there were 19 cases of birth injuries. This gave an incidence of 11 per 1000 live births. No neonate had more than one injury. They were thirteen males and six females that sustained birth injury. Cephalohematoma was the most common birth injury. Others are caput succedaneum, clavicular fracture, Erb’s palsy, femoral fracture, humeral fracture, shoulder dislocation and facial laceration. Mode of delivery, neonatal birth weight, gestational age and maternal parity were significant predictive risk factors for birth injury. Conclusion: In the current study, cephalohematoma was the most common birth injury, followed by caput succedaneum. There is need to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with birth injuries.
Highlights
Birth injury, which is known as birth trauma, could be defined as structural damage of a newborn secondary to mechanical forces that occurred during labour, delivery or both
The incidence rate of birth trauma may never by zero because birth trauma still occurs in optimal condition, in best of obstetrical care and even in the absence of any risk factors [2]
This gives an overall incidence of birth trauma of 1.1% or 11 per 1000 live births
Summary
Birth injury, which is known as birth trauma, could be defined as structural damage of a newborn secondary to mechanical forces (such as compression or traction) that occurred during labour, delivery or both. It usually occurs as a result of physical pressure during the process of birth, as the fetus passes through the birth canal. Delivery mechanisms include obstetric instrumental techniques such as forceps and vacuum assisted delivery These instruments increase the ease of descent of the fetus and increase birth injury risk. Neonatal birth weight, gestational age and maternal parity were significant predictive risk factors for birth injury. There is need to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with birth injuries
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