Table 2 Survey questions not in DHS but added to EN-INDEPTH study regarding categorisation of stillbirths
From: Stillbirth outcome capture and classification in population-based surveys: EN-INDEPTH study
Domain | Question | Source of question | Potential responses | Target population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Vital Status at birth | Did this baby cry, move or breath at birth, even a little? If responds ‘no’ or ‘don’t know’ to first part: If this baby did not cry, move, or breathe at birth was he/she born dead? | Yes, no, don’t know Yes, no, don’t know | All babies classified as neonatal deaths, early fetal deaths or stillbirths based on FBH+ or FPH questions | |
Gestational Age | How many weeks pregnant were you when this baby was born? | Adapted from WHO 2012 Verbal Autopsy tool [31] | From card, From recall, Don’t know Weeks: numeric integer | All babies selected for additional questions |
Was this baby born before expected? If responds ‘yes’ to first part: How many weeks was this baby born before the expected date of delivery? If does not know weeks: How many months was this baby born before the expected date of delivery? | Adapted from WHO 2007 Verbal Autopsy tool [33] | Yes, no, don’t know Weeks: numeric integer Don’t know Months: numeric integer Don’t know | ||
Birthweight | When this baby was born was this baby very large, larger than average, average, smaller than average or very small? | DHS-7 standard question to recent livebirths | Very large, larger than average, average, smaller than average, very small or don’t know | |
Was this baby weighed at birth? If responds ‘yes’ to first part: How much did this baby weigh? | DHS-7 standard question to recent livebirths | Yes, no, don’t know Kg from card, Kg from recall, don’t know Kg: numeric integer | ||
Vital Status at start of labour (intrapartum/ antepartum stillbirth) | Did this baby stop moving in the womb before labour pains started? | Yes, no, don’t know | All babies classified as late gestation stillbirths on FBH+ or FPH questions confirming that the baby was born dead on additional questions above. | |
Did a birth attendant listen for the baby’s heart beat during labour with an electronic device (Doppler) or cone-shaped stethoscope placed on the abdomen? If responds ‘yes’ to first part: Was the baby’s heartbeat present? | WHO Making Every Baby Count – audit and review of stillbirths and neonatal deaths guide [35] | Yes, Doppler Yes, Stethoscope No Don’t know Yes, no, don’t know | ||
Was the baby macerated; that is skin peeling or showing signs of decay? | Yes, no, don’t know | |||
Presence of congenital malformations | Did this baby have any major malformation at birth? If responds ‘yes’ to first part: What kind of malformation did the baby have?a | WHO 2007 Verbal Autopsy tool [33] | Yes, no, don’t know Swelling/ defect on back Very large head Very small head Defect of lip/palate Intestines protruding Other Don’t know | All babies classified as early or late gestation stillbirths based on FBH+ or FPH questions |
Sex of babyb | Was the baby a boy or a girl? | Adapted from DHS-7 | Boy, Girl, don’t know | All pregnancy losses at 6 or more months in FPH arm only |