DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2018.v06i02.008

Pages: 176-178

Antepartum stillbirth is a leading cause of perinatal mortality, of which medical disorders are an important cause. The objective of the study was to evaluate thyroid disorders as risk factor for antepartum stillbirth. The study was done over a period of 3 months in a medical college hospital, which is also a referral centre. Women admitted with singleton pregnancy more than 28 weeks were selected. Intrapartum stillbirth and pregnancies with either hypertensive disease of pregnancy or diabetes were excluded. Data collected was analyzed. The antepartum stillbirth ratio was 8.65%. Hypothyroid women were at higher risk of antepartum stillbirth compared to euthyroid women (odds ratio=5.62). Most of these women who had been diagnosed in the antenatal clinic had discontinued the medication or were not taking it regularly. Hence, women with thyroid disorders are at increased risk of stillbirth. Hence, they should be screened and undergo increased antenatal surveillance.