Mihiretu A, Negash T and Elazar T
Abstract Background: Birth is a critical time for the mother and fetus. In Ethiopia rates of new born morbidity and mortality are among the highest in the world. Even though many African mothers including Ethiopian are ending up in perinatal mortality, little was investigated to identify the associated factors. Methodology: A facility based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in July, 2015 in Wolaita Sodo University teaching and referral Hospital by collecting data through record review of all women who gave birth at the hospital within the past one year preceding the survey. Systematic sampling technique was used to select 300 subjects. Epidata version 1.4.4.0 and SPSS version 20 were used to enter and analyze data respectively. Proportions and means were used to describe the study population by explanatory variables whereas; Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify the candidate and predictor variables respectively. All statistical tests were considered significant at α<0.05. Result: Among the 300 mothers who delivered their index child at Wolaita Sodo University teaching and referral hospital, 52 (17.3%) of them had a dead perinatal outcome. Antenatal care visit, obstructed labor, referral from other health facility, cord prolapse, preeclampsia and birth weight were identified as predictors of perinatal outcome. Conclusion: Perinatal death among the study participants was high, which seeks a due attention. Appropriate antenatal care supported with ultrasound examination, improving obstetrics care, early diagnosis and appropriate management of severely asphyxiated fetus at the time of delivery could reduce the prevalence. Hence, making health facilities (those which can provide comprehensive services) accessible to clients could reduce perinatal death attributable to referral related causes. Besides, health facilities have to give due attention on strengthening improvement of ante-natal care service and the use of partograph.