Determinants of stillbirth in Felege-Hiwot comprehensive specialized referral hospital, North-west, Ethiopia, 2019

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify determinants of stillbirth in Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialized referral hospital, North-west, Ethiopia: 2019. To conduct this study an institutional-based unmatched case–control study was used among 84 cases and 336 controls. Pretested, structured questioner with face to face interview was conducted and some data were also extracted from medical records using a checklist. The data were analyzed by using binary logistics regression. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered as significant at 95% confidence level and the strength of association was measured using odds ratio. RESULTS: Illiteracy (AOR 3.8, 95% CI 1.4–10.2), sexually transmitted infection (AOR 5.7, 95% CI 1.1–29.7), Premature rupture of membrane (AOR 4.0, 95% CI 1.4–11.3), congenital anomaly (AOR 10.4, 95% CI 2.0–11.2) and history of perinatal death (AOR 10.4, 95% CI 3.7–29.2) were the determinants of stillbirth that increase risk of fetal death. Whereas taking at least two doses of tetanus toxoid vaccine (AOR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2–0.9) and partograph use (AOR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1–0.4) were found to be protective factors for stillbirth. To overcome this problem; empowering female education, facilitating women in taking tetanus toxoid vaccine, sexually transmitted infection prevention, and encourage health professionals to use partograph during labour follow up highly strongly recommended.