title: Frequency of maternal and newborn birth outcomes, Lima, Peru, 2013.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes the pregnancy and birth outcomes at two hospitals in Lima, Peru. The data collection and analysis is intended to inform patients, providers, and policy makers on Peru's progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals and to help set priorities for action and further research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected retrospectively from a sample of 237 women who delivered between December 2012 and September 2013 at the Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal or the Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza. The outcomes were recorded by a trained mid-wife through telephone interviews with patients and by review of hospital records. Associations between participant demographic characteristics and pregnancy outcomes were tested with Chi-squared, Fisher's exact, or Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 37% of women experienced at least one maternal or perinatal complication, and the most frequent were hypertension/preeclampsia and macrosomia. The women in our sample had a cesarean section rate of 50.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal and perinatal complications are not uncommon among women in the lower socioeconomic strata of Lima. Also, the high cesarean rate underpins the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the indications for cesarean section deliveries, which could help reduce the number of unnecessary procedures and preventable complications.
authors: Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors: Adriane
authors: A
authors: Wynn
authors: Center for AIDS Research and Education (CARE), Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors: Jeanne
authors: J
authors: Cabeza
authors: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Adachi
authors: Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors: Jack
authors: J
authors: Needleman
authors: School of Public Health and Administration (FASPA), Lima, Peru, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Lima, Peru.
authors: Patricia J
authors: PJ
authors: Garcia
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for World Health and Department of Epidemiology, David Geffen School of Medicine and Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
authors: Jeffrey D
authors: JD
authors: Klausner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult