title: Obstructed labour: a public health problem in Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria.
abstract: This study reviewed retrospectively the cases of obstructed labour as seen at the specialist Gombe Hospital (SHG), Gombe State, over a period of 5 years. The incidence of obstructed labour was 4.0%. There was a progressive decline in the time trend over the study period. About 80.3% of the patients were unbooked emergencies and 99.5% of them had been in labour elsewhere before presenting at the hospital. The leading cause of obstructed labour was cephalopelvic disproportion (83.0%). Caesarean section (72.2%) was the most common method of delivery. Puerperal sepsis was the most frequent morbidity. However, the longest duration of hospital stay was as a result of a bedsore. The maternal mortality for cases of obstructed labour was 7605/100,000 and the perinatal mortality was 628/1000 births. The study aims to reinstate public interest in this health problem and offers suggestions on how to curb this human tragedy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria. gsmelah@hotmail.com
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Melah
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: El-Nafaty
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Audu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007746:Labor Presentation; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy