Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38708746›Full record

ArticleSouth African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care2024

Causes of stillbirths at Kgapane hospital, Limpopo province.

Gert J O Marincowitz, Clara Marincowitz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. A socio-ecological analysis of parents' experiences of stillbirth in Limpopo, South Africa.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Gert J O MarincowitzDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo, Mankweng. rhinorth@mweb.co.za.
Clara Marincowitz

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStillbirths are a global public health challenge, predominantly affecting low- and middle-income countries. The causes of most stillbirths are preventable.

objectivesthis study reviewed perinatal clinical audit data from Kgapane Hospital over a 4-year period with a special focus on the factors associated with stillbirths.

methodsFile audits were done for all stillbirths occurring at Kgapane Hospital and its catchment area from 2018 to 2021. The data from these audits were analysed to identify factors associated with stillbirths.

resultsA total of 392 stillbirths occurred during the study period at Kgapane Hospital and its surrounding clinics, resulting in a stillborn rate of 19.06/1000 births. Of the 392 stillbirths recorded, audits were conducted on 354 of the maternal case records. The five most common causes of stillbirths identified were: hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) (29.7%), intrauterine growth restriction without HDP (11.6%), birth asphyxia (7.1%), premature labour ( 1000 g) (6.5%) and maternal infections (5.9%) including HIV with unsuppressed VL, intrauterine infection, coronavirus disease (COVID) and syphilis. Modifiable factors that can form the basis of improvement strategies should include training, timeous referral, plus improved resources and staffing.

conclusionUnderstanding the causes of stillbirths can guide improvement strategies to reduce this heart-breaking complication of pregnancy.Contribution: Family physicians working in rural hospitals are also responsible for perinatal care. Understanding the factors associated with stillbirths will guide them to develop improvement strategies to reduce these preventable deaths.

Indexed as

StillbirthAdultCOVID-19FemaleFetal Growth RetardationHumansHypertension, Pregnancy-InducedInfant, NewbornPregnancyPregnancy ComplicationsRisk FactorsSouth Africaauditdistrict hospital.perinatalrural heathstillbirths

Identifiers

PMID38708746
PMCPMC11079331

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.