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Human error is the most common cause of infant asphyxiation at birth, according to a new study.

Norwegian researchers found that inadequate fetal monitoring, lack of clinical skills and failure to obtain senior medical staff assistance are most common reasons cited in compensation claims following birth asphyxia.

"While fetal brain injury or death is uncommon during childbirth, when it occurs the effects are devastating," Dr. Stine Andreasen with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Nordlandssykehuset (Nordland Hospital) in Bodø, Norway said in a news release. "Our study investigates claims made to the NPE for neurological injury or death following birth asphyxia."

Researchers looked at 315 claims made to The Norwegian System of Compensation to Patients (NPE) between 1994 and 2008 that were associated with alleged birth asphyxia. The results revealed that of all the claims made, there were 161 cases that were awarded compensation.

The findings revealed that in the compensated cases there were 107 infants who survived. The results showed that 96 had neurological injury and 54 died.

Researchers found that human error was the most common cause of birth asphyxia with 50 percent attributed to inadequate fetal monitoring, 14 percent lack of clinical knowledge, 11 percent non-compliance to clinical guidelines, 10 percent failure to ask for senior medical assistance, and 4 percent were errors in drug administration.

"In most compensated cases, poor fetal monitoring led to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the infant," concludes Dr. Andreasen. "Training for midwives and obstetricians, along with high-quality audits, could help to reduce claims for compensation after birth asphyxia."

The findings were published in the journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.