Research

Stillbirth risk across pregnancy by size for gestational age in Western Cape Province, South Africa: Application of the fetuses-at-risk approach using perinatal audit data

T Lavin, R C Pattinson, L Nedkoff, S Gebhardt, D B Preen

Abstract


Background. There is little published work on the risk of stillbirth across pregnancy for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and large-for-gestational (LGA) pregnancies in low-resource settings.

Objectives. To compare stillbirth risk across pregnancy between SGA and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) pregnancies in Western Cape Province, South Africa (SA).

Methods. A retrospective audit of perinatal mortality data using data from the SA Perinatal Problem Identification Program was conducted. All audited stillbirths with information on size for gestational age (N=677) in the Western Cape between October 2013 and August 2015 were included in the study. The Western Cape has antenatal care (ANC) appointments at booking and at 20, 26, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 41 (if required) weeks’ gestation. A fetuses-at-risk approach was adopted to examine stillbirth risk (28 - 42 weeks’ gestation, ≥1 000 g) across gestation by size for gestational age (SGA <10th centile Theron growth curves, LGA >90th centile). Stillbirth risk was compared between SGA/LGA and AGA pregnancies.

Results. SGA pregnancies were at an increased risk of stillbirth compared with AGA pregnancies between 30 and 40 weeks’ gestation, with the relative risk (RR) ranging from 3.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6 - 7.6) at 30 weeks’ gestation to 15.3 (95% CI 8.8 - 26.4) at 33 weeks’ gestation (p<0.001). The risk for LGA babies increased by at least 3.5-fold in the later stages of pregnancy (from 37 weeks) (p<0.001). At 38  weeks, the greatest increased risk was seen for LGA pregnancies (RR 6.6, 95% CI 3.1 - 14.2; p<0.001).

Conclusions. There is an increased risk of stillbirth for SGA pregnancies, specifically between 33 and 40 weeks’ gestation, despite fortnightly ANC visits during this time. LGA pregnancies are at an increased risk of stillbirth after 37 weeks’ gestation. This high-risk period highlights potential issues with the detection of fetuses at risk of stillbirth even when ANC is frequent.

 


Authors' affiliations

T Lavin, Centre for Health Services Research, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Australia

R C Pattinson, South African Medical Research Council Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

L Nedkoff, Cardiovascular Research Group, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Australia

S Gebhardt, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Heath Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

D B Preen, Centre for Health Services Research, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Australia

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Keywords

Stillbirth risk; Small for gestational age; Large for gestational age; Pregnancy; South Africa; Fetal death

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2019;109(12):927-933. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2019.v109i12.13764

Article History

Date submitted: 2019-11-27
Date published: 2019-11-27

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