Strategies to reduce and maintain low perinatal mortality in resource-poor settings - Findings from a four-decade observational study of birth records from a large public maternity hospital in Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

In many low- to middle-income countries (LMIC) assisted vaginal birth rates have fallen, while caesarean section (CS) rates have increased, with potentially deleterious consequences for maternal and perinatal mortality. To review birth mode and perinatal mortality in a large LMIC hospital with strict labour management protocols and expertise in vacuum extraction. We conducted a retrospective observational study at Port Moresby General Hospital in Papua New Guinea. Birth registers from 1977 to 2015 (39 years) were reviewed. Overall and modified (fresh stillbirths and early neonatal deaths ≥500 g) perinatal mortality rates (PMRs) were calculated by birthweight/birth mode. There were 365 056 births (5215 in 1977; 14 927 in 2015), of which 14 179 (3.9%) were vacuum extractions, 609 (0.2%) forceps births and 14 747 (4.4%) CS (increase from 2% to 5%). The failure rate of vacuum extraction was 2.5% (range 0.5-5.4%). Symphysiotomy was employed for 184 births. From 1989 to 2015, the modified mean PMR for babies ≥2500 g was 8.1/1000 births (range 5.6-12.1; 6.9 in 2015), 9.1/1000 for babies ≥1500 g (7.3-14.8; 9.1 in 2015) and 7.5/1000 (0-21.7; 9.0 in 2015) for vacuum extractions (98% were ≥2500 g). The overall PMR for these years was 29.7/1000 births. In an LMIC with rapidly increasing birth numbers a comparatively low PMR can be achieved while maintaining low CS rates. This may be in part accomplished through strict use of second-stage protocols, perinatal audit, and supportive training that promotes judicious and proficient use of vacuum extraction and CS.