<qa>  What is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity?Meconium passage in newborn infants is a developmentally programmed event normally occurring within first 24-48 hours of birth. Intra uterine meconium passage in near term or term fetuses has been associated with feto-maternal stress factors andor infections, whereas meconium passage in post term pregnancies has been attributed to gastro-intestinal maturity. Meconium staining of amniotic fluid occurs in 12 of all live births per annuum. Aspiration of meconium that occurs during intra uterine life or after delivery with the first few breaths may result in or contribute to respiratory pathology known as meconium aspiration syndrome MAS which represents a leading cause of perinatal morbidity, occurring in 5-20 of all babies born through MSAF. 