Impact of stillbirths on international comparisons of preterm birth rates: a secondary analysis of the WHO multi-country survey of Maternal and Newborn Health.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the extent to which stillbirths affect international comparisons of preterm birth rates in low- and middle-income countries.

Design

Secondary analysis of a multi-country cross-sectional study.

Setting

29 countries participating in the World Health Organization Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health.

Population

258 215 singleton deliveries in 286 hospitals.

Methods

We describe how inclusion or exclusion of stillbirth affect rates of preterm births in 29 countries.

Main outcome measures

Preterm delivery.

Results

In all countries, preterm birth rates were substantially lower when based on live births only, than when based on total births. However, the increase in preterm birth rates with inclusion of stillbirt

SUBMITTER: Morisaki N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5573985 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature