Risk factors of intrapartal fetal death in a low-resource setting

Objective: To identify the risk factors of intrapartal fetal death in a tertiary hospital in Yaoundé. Methods: It was a case-control study comparing 53 women who delivered with intrapartal fetal death to 106 women who delivered without intrapartal fetal death, carried out at the Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon. Results: The risk factors of intrapartal fetal death identified at bivariate analysis were: maternal age <20 years (OR = 3.1;CI = 1.1 - 8.3), absence of regular income (OR = 2.4;CI = 1.2 - 4.7), single motherhood (OR = 2.9;CI = 1.5 - 5.7), illiteracy and primary level of education (OR = 4.7;CI = 1.9 - 11.5), referral (OR = 5.0;CI = 2.5 - 9.9), parity 0 and 1 (OR = 2.3;CI = 1.1 - 4.5), no antenatal care (OR = 9.2;CI = 2.4 - 35.6), number of antenatal visits <4 (OR = 4.2;CI = 2.1 - 8.6), antenatal care in a health center (OR = 3.8;CI = 1.9 - 7.5), antenatal care by a midwife (OR = 2.5;CI = 1.3 - 4.9) or a nurse (OR = 5.2;CI = 1.4 - 18.7), absence of malaria prophylaxis (OR = 10.6;CI = 2.9 - 39.5), absence of obstetrical ultrasound (OR = 4.7;CI = 1.9 - 10.9), prematurity (OR = 3.4;CI = 1.5 - 7.3), abnormal presentation (OR = 2.6;CI = 1.1 - 5.9), ruptured membranes at admission (OR = 2.7;CI = 1.3 - 5.4), ruptured membranes >12 hours at admission (OR = 5.1;CI = 2.5 - 10.3), stained amniotic fluid (OR = 4.8;CI = 2.4 - 9.7), labor lasting more than 12 hours (OR = 18.1;CI = 8.0 - 41.0), presence of maternal complications (OR = 4.7;CI = 2.2 - 10.3), and presence of fetal complications (OR = 48.6;CI = 18.3 - 129), particularly acute fetal distress (OR = 52.3;CI = (14.6 - 186), cord prolapse (OR = 12.1;CI = 3.3 - 43.4), and birth weight <2500 g (OR = 2.8;CI = 1.2 - 6.6). Conclusion: Close attention should be offered to pregnant women, so as to identify these risk factors and promptly provide an appropriate management.

Outcome of cesarean delivery in women with excessive weight gain during pregnancy

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of excessive weight gain during pregnancy on the outcome of cesarean delivery. It was a cohort study comparing the outcome of cesarean delivery between 56 pregnant women with excessive weight gain during pregnancy and 75 pregnant women with no excessive weight gain during pregnancy, consecutively recruited at the Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon. In women delivered by cesarean section, excessive weight gain during pregnancy was found to predispose to: time interval from parietal incision to fetal extraction of more than five minutes, duration of cesarean section more than 60 minutes, blood loss more than 1000 ml during surgery, post-operative maternal complications, especially sepsis, fetal weight >3.5 kg and macrosomia. A systematic screening of excessive weight gain should be offered to all pregnant women, so as to prevent the adverse effects of excessive gestational weight gain on cesarean outcome.

Obstetrical and Perinatal Outcomes of Adolescent Pregnancies in Cameroon: A Retrospective Cohort Study at the YaoundéGeneral Hospital

Background: Adolescent pregnancy is a serious health and social problem worldwide as well as in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to determine the obstetrical and perinatal outcomes of nulliparous adolescent pregnancies in a reference hospital in Cameroon. Methods: A retrospective cohort study to compare the outcomes of nulliparous adolescent pregnancies to those of nulliparous women aged 20 to 25 years was carried out at the Yaoundé General Hospital between January 1993 and December 2012. Results: Adolescent deliveries represented 2.84% (331 deliveries) of all deliveries registered during the study period. The adolescent mothers had a significantly higher incidence of preeclampsia/eclampsia, preterm delivery and low birth weight babies (<2500 g) when compared to the control group (OR, 3.46;CI 95%, 1.46 - 8.18;OR, 1.94 CI 95%, 1.34 - 2.79;OR, 1.98, CI 95%, 1.39 - 2.46, respectively). However, placenta previa, abruptio placenta, episiotomy, cesarean section, vaginal instrumental delivery, perineal tears and post partum hemorrhage were not significantly different in the two groups. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding fetal distress, low Apgar score (st and 5th minutes), the rate of admission in the neonatal intensive care unit, stillbirth and neonatal death. Conclusion: Adolescent pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia/ eclampsia, preterm birth and low birth weight.