Effectiveness of Non Stress Test on Fetal, Neonatal and Maternal Outcomes to Prevent Chronic Consequences in Delivery Health Centers

Non stress test (NST) is the most common and the first recommended test to assess the health of the fetus especially in high risk pregnancies in most studies. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of non-stress test on fetal, neonatal and maternal outcomes to prevent chronic consequences in delivery health centers of West Azerbaijan.

This was a classic case-control study conducted on 984 subjects in West Azerbaijan. The method of sampling was census during the last two years (2014 - 2015). Of 984 subjects, 500 subjects had undergone NST (case group) and 484 subjects had not been undergone NST (control group). Data were collected using records of mothers and checklist including variables related to maternal characteristics such as fetus characteristics, and the results of the NST. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24 software. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

In the case group, 71.6% had a positive or reactive response and 28.4% had non-reactive test response. The rate of fetal death in centers without NST was 2.18% and fetal deaths were higher in centers without NST and all deaths in centers with NST occurred when this test was non-reactive (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant relationship between NST with exposure to meconium and fetal distress. The main cause of NST was the premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) (41.7%). Post-term, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, decreased fetal movement (DFM) and post-term were other common causes. Meanwhile, 24.4% of mothers had abnormal movement tests, and this result was more non-reactive NST compared with reactive NST (P = 0.001).

Using non stress test to observe the abnormal results of this test, midwives working in centers can quickly decide on appropriate referrals of mothers to hospitals and delivery centers, in such a way that this referral prevents mothers from developing adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes.