Epidemiological profile of perinatal mortality in the department of Cauca, Colombia, 2010-2018.

Abstract

Introduction: perinatal mortality is a serious public health problem worldwide. It is estimated that 98 % occur in developing countries. In the Department of Cauca, Colombia, the rates remain constant and even exceed the national ones. Objective: to determine the epidemiological profile of perinatal mortality in the Department of Cauca between 2010 and 2018. Methods: Retrospective cohort in which all cases of perinatal mortality registered in the database of the Epidemiological Surveillance System were included. Nacional, from the Department of Cauca, from 2010 to 2018. The analysis was carried out in SPSS version 19.0. Results: 2.527 records of perinatal deaths were included during the study period; 42.9 % of the mothers with cases of perinatal deaths were between 20 and 29 years old; 80.61 % belonged to the subsidized regime; 26.2 % of the mothers were indigenous; 42.50 % had a secondary educational level; 18% of the mothers had some method of family planning; 57 % had less than four prenatal check-ups, and 64.51 % had late prenatal check-ups (after the first trimester of pregnancy). 40.04 % of perinatal deaths were secondary to asphyxia; 69.5 % had low birth weight (<2500 grams), and 69.9 % had gestational ages below 37 weeks. 55.5 % of the cases occurred in the antepartum. Conclusions: Perinatal mortality rates in the Department of Cauca have remained constant. It is more frequent in mothers affiliated with the subsidized regime, belonging to an ethnic group, with a low educational level, low fertility regulation, a history of fetal death, and limited prenatal check-ups.