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.
Mekbib
T A
TA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yekatit 12 Hospital, Addis Abeda.
Teferi
B
B
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