Caesarean section and foetal outcome at Yekatit 12 Hospital, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, 1987-1992.
This retrospective study was carried out to examine indications for Caesarean section (CS), foetal outcome and postoperative complications and to recommend ways of reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. In a five year period (September 1987 to August 1992), among 11,657 consecutive deliveries at Yekatit 12 Hospital, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, there were 645 CSs, an overall CS rate of 5.5%. During this study, the indications for CS were cephalopelvic disproportion (31.2%), foetal distress (21.4%), previous CS (17.5%), placenta praevia (6.6%), cord prolapse (4.2%) and others (19.1%). There were 99 perinatal deaths, a gross perinatal mortality rate of 153.5 per 1,000 live births, which was a significantly higher rate than the total rate for all deliveries (67.5 per 1,000 live births, p < 0.01). There were seven maternal deaths (case fatality rate of 1.1%). The very high perinatal mortality in this study calls for a better and more effective antenatal service to improve foetal and maternal survival. This could be achieved by strengthening the referral system for pregnant women with obstructed and prolonged labour.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yekatit 12 Hospital, Addis Abeda.
T A
TA
Mekbib
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Teferi
D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008428:Maternal Mortality / Q000639:trends; D009017:Morbidity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate