Incidence of meconium stained amniotic fluid among deliveries at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid during labour occurs in eight to twenty five percent of  deliveries globally. Low and middle income countries are thought to have a higher incidence, however there is paucity of data to confirm this. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of meconium stained amniotic fluid among deliveries at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Three hundred and four consecutive singleton live birth where recruited and the presence of meconium staining during delivery was documented. The incidence of meconium stained amniotic fluid was 21.4% (65/304). More than a quarter (27.7%) of the meconium-stained neonates required admission into the neonatal unit and accounted for 19.4% of inborn admissions during the period. The presence of meconium staining during labour is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and deserve closer attention to improve neonatal outcome.