Meconium – Stained Amniotic Fluid in Labour – its Significance and Correlation to Early Maternal and Neonatal Outcome – A Prospective Case Control Study in A Tertiary Care Center

Background: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) is a well-known factor which associated with significant adverse pregnancy outcomes. Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) occurs in about 5% of deliveries with MSAF and death occurs in about 12% of infants with MAS. The significance of meconium claimed to be varied from being entirely physiological, which exhibits sign of fetal maturity, to a sign of fetal distress as a response to hypoxic insult to the foetus. This study was carried out in a tertiary care centre; with the aim of detecting the significance of MSAF. Additionally, this study compares the fetal and maternal outcome in deliveries complicated by meconium-stained amniotic fluid and critically evaluates the associated predisposing maternal and fetal factors for MSAF. Method: This prospective case-control study was carried out in Colombo South Teaching Hospital (University Professorial Obstetrics Unit), Sri Lanka. Women who presented to the unit with pre-defined selection protocol were recruited to the study until the sample size (n = 216 in each arm) is achieved. The Sample was categorized in to two groups depend on the presence or absence of Meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Mean, standard deviation, median and 95% confidence interval are computed for quantitative variables. Chi-square test is applied for calculating the statistical significance of variables such as grades of meconium and Apgar score at 95% confidence interval. The p-value