To determine the prevalence and associated factors of stillbirths in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt, south-south Nigeria.

Retrospective study.

Data were obtained from the delivery registers in the theatre, labour and isolation wards and the records department of the UPTH between 1st January 2005 and 31st December 2010.

We included 580 stillbirths (316 males and 264 females) whose data were analyzed using Epi-Info software version 6.04 and SPSS version 11.

The prevalence of stillbirths was 45 per 1000 births. Fresh stillbirths (SB) (50.9%) were not significantly more than macerated SB (49.1%) p=0.792. Preterms (47.8%) were insignificantly more than term SB (41.5%) p=0.765. Unbooked mothers (86.7%), age 25-34 years (70%) and lower parities 1, 2 and 0 (43.4% and 29% respectively) were significantly associated with stillbirth delivery p<0.05. Places of antenatal supervision of the unbooked mothers were primary health centre (27%), traditional birth attendants’ (25%), churches, (22.3%), private maternities, (21.1%). Predominant pregnancy and labour complications associated with SB were prolonged labour (23.1%) abruptio placentae (14.1%), retained second twin (21.8%). Significantly more SB were delivered vaginally (66.9%) than abdominally (33.1%) p=0.026.

Lack of booking, inadequate pregnancy and labour supervision, avoidable delays are major contributors to high prevalence of stillbirths in Nigeria.