Prenatal and intrapartum factors related to low APGAR score at Hospital Nacional Zacamil

Abstract

A descriptive, retrospective study of 44 cases of mothers who had children with a low APGAR score at the first or fifth minute of life during the year 2004 was carried out at the Zacamil National Hospital, with the aim of knowing the frequency, related obstetric factors, method of delivery and resuscitation methods used in neonates with low APGAR in the Delivery Service of said institution. It was found that during 2004 a total of 3,027 deliveries were attended, of which 44 cases had an APGAR score of 6 or 6 less, representing a frequency of 1.4%. Of the neonates with a low APGAR at one minute, a satisfactory recovery rate greater than 80% was found at 5min. The highest incidence was observed in term neonates with weights between normal ranges. It was concluded that maternal age, prirniparity, incomplete or absent prenatal control, labor dystocia, and cesarean sections are risk factors for the newborn to present a low APGAR.