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. 2011 Apr 1;11:25. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-11-25

Table 1.

Verbal autopsy case definitions for selected causes of antepartum and intrapartum stillbirths

Timing of stillbirth Cause Case definitions applied in verbal autopsy data
Antepartum ('skin and tissue was pulpy' or 'baby stopped moving before labor') Congenital abnormality very small head/no brain at the time of birth; OR mass or defect on the back of the head or spine
Maternal hemorrhage vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
Maternal hypertensive disorders convulsion; OR hypertension during pregnancy diagnosed by a health worker*
Maternal infections fever during delivery; OR green/brown color or foul smelling amniotic fluid
Maternal severe anemia severe anemia during pregnancy†
Intrapartum (Neither 'skin and tissue was pulpy' nor 'baby stopped moving before labor') Congenital abnormality very small head/no brain at the time of birth; OR mass or defect on the back of the head or spine
Intrapartum hypoxia breech presentation; hand/feet delivered first; cord delivered first; obstructed labor; prolonged labor, OR vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
Preterm labour Gestational age < 8 months
Maternal hypertensive disorders convulsion; OR hypertension during pregnancy diagnosed by a health worker*
Maternal intrapartum infections fever during delivery; OR green/brown color or foul smelling amniotic fluid

*Reported history of having the diagnosis by a health worker

†Reported, which may or may not be based on clinical diagnosis by health workers