A survey of meconium staining of amniotic fluid and meconium aspiration syndrome in Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

A 3 - month survey on meconium staining of amniotic fluid and meconium aspiration syndrome, was done. 1103 infants were born, 140 (12.7%) had passed meconium in utero and 9(0.82%) developed meconium aspiration syndrome. 8(88.9%) of meconium aspiration syndrome babies had had tracheal suction. 4 babies died, giving a mortality rate of 44:4% of the infants who developed meconium aspiration syndrome. There was a higher incidence of abnormal foetal heart rates and low Apgar scores in the meconium stained infants than among the controls. The caesarean section rate was 2 times higher in the meconium group than among the controls.