Hidden-deaths high stillbirth rate in Upper East Region, Ghana, 2011-2015

Introduction : stillbirth is a newborn having no sign of life at delivery. It is one of the most common adverse outcomes of pregnancy. About 3.2 million stillbirths occur worldwide each year. The highest number of stillbirths were reported in South-East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. While stillbirth rates are as low as 3 to 5 per 1000 births in high-income countries, the incidence is estimated to be 5 to 10 times greater in many low to middle-income countries including Ghana. Stillbirth data in the Upper East Region (UER) of Ghana have not been adequately analyzed. We analyzed data to determine the proportion of stillbirths per district and also ascertain the trend of stillbirth over the five-year period. Methods : in 2016, we performed a secondary data analysis of stillbirths recorded from 2011- 2015 in the UER. Stillbirths data recorded in DHIMS was abstracted and entered in the Microsoft Excel database version 2013 and analyzed into frequencies, proportions and presented in tables and figures. Results : the burden of stillbirth for 2011 to 2015 in the Upper East Region was 16.8 per 1000 deliveries. Of this, Bawku Municipal recorded 40.6/1000 deliveries. The lowest stillbirth rate (5.5/1000) was reported by Garu-Tempane District. The highest burden of stillbirth was in 2012. Most of the stillbirths 1471(58%) were macerated. Stillbirth rate was high between April and November over the five-year period. Conclusion : the burden of stillbirth in the Upper East Region is relatively high with the majority being macerated. Many of the stillbirths were recorded in Bawku Municipal and occurred between April and November.