EFFECT OF ANTENATAL CORTICOSTEROIDS ON MATERNAL AND FETAL OUTCOME

Linha Faris Hani*, Farah Azmi Shawkat and Shaima Ahmed Abdul Hakim

ABSTRACT

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether antenatal corticosteroid exposure (ACS) is associated with reduced perinatal mortality (primary outcome) as well as other adverse perinatal outcomes in premature infants or not. syndrome, stillbirth, early neonatal mortality rate and APGAR score less than 7 at 5 minutes. We also examined factors associated with ACS use in women who are pregnant and at risk for preterm birth. Methods: The study is promising in a hospital setting in Iraq. All stillborn infants were included in the study population, and surviving preterm infants had a gestational age of 24 to 34 weeks. 100 women who managed ACS and another 100 women without ACS were included in this study. Participants' medical records were used to collect demographic and health-related data. Results: From 24 to 34 weeks of pregnancy, 100 women received at least one dose of ACS and 100 newborns were exposed to ACS. Perinatal mortality was lower in ACS-exposed infants (14%) than in unaffected infants (30%). According to multivariate analysis, infants exposed to ACS had lower perinatal mortality. Use of ACS was associated with maternal education, more than 3 antenatal visits, method of determining gestational age, presence of maternal infection, use of antibiotics during pregnancy, mode of delivery, and facility level medical. Conclusion: In a resource-limited setting, ACS has significantly reduced the risk of perinatal death in infants born before their due date.

Keywords: Corticosteroids, Maternal, Fetal, Antenatal.