The Frequency of Meconium Staining Amniotic Fluid, Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and Associated Factors in Newborns in Alghadir Hospital

Background: Approximately 15% of all live births are complicated by meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Fortunately, only 5% of neonate born through meconium staining amniotic fluid (MSAF) develop meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). This study was designed to assess the frequency of meconium staining amniotic fluid, meconium aspiration syndrome and their associated factors. Methods: this cross-sectional study performed during 2004-2005 in Alghadir hospital, which is a charity hospital located in the east part of Tehran with a large number of deliveries annually and also a highly equipped neonatal ICU. All live births newborns in these 2 years included in the study and newborns with MSAF and MAS were evaluated more. Findings: There were 6355 live births in the hospital in this period. Two hundreds and nineteen (3.4%) of them had MSAF and MAS developed in only 12 newborns (0.002 of total births and 5% of MSAF). In MAS group, 7 neonates (58.3%) had low APGAR score (< 8) (P = 0.001) and also, 10 of them (83.3%) had thick meconium (P = 0.017); but there were no relation between MAS and type of delivery, gestational age and birth weight (P > 0.05). Conclusion: There are meaningful relationships between MAS with low APGAR and thick meconium. Keywords: Amniotic fluid, Apgar score, Meconium, Meconium aspiration syndrome.