Abruptio placenta and pregnancy outcome at Al-Sadka teaching hospital, Aden, Yemen

Abstract

Background: Placental abruption is a serious obstetric complication with many potential adverse outcomes for both mother and fetus. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and maternal and perinatal consequences of placental abruption among pregnant women, at Al-Sadka Teaching Hospital. Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study including women with placental abruption, who delivered at Al-Sadka University Hospital, Aden, Yemen, during the period from August 01, 2015, to September 31, 2016. Statistical analysis of the data was performed with (statistics is a statistical software version 24). Results: The frequency of placental abruption in this study was 0.84%. The majority of women with placental abruption were in the 20–25 age group (34.3%), multiparous (51.4%), had no antenatal care (ANC) (51.4%). and illiterate (37.1%). The most common clinical presentation was vaginal bleeding (82.9%), followed by tetanic uterine contractions (68.6%). The most common risk factors associated with placental abruption were pre-eclampsia (34.5%) and premature rupture of membrane (21.8%). Most of our patients (77.1%) had a vaginal delivery, while the rest had a cesarean section delivery. The most common maternal complications were postpartum hemorrhage (100%) and hemorrhagic shock (27.5%). Perinatal death was more commonly associated with pre-eclampsia (55.0%), severe placental abruption (95%), and preterm birth (70%). On the other hand, perinatal death was reported in 28.6% of our patients (n=20). A higher percentage of fetuses born by cesarean section died (56.3%), while 79.6% of vaginal deliveries involved live fetuses. Conclusion: The frequency of placental abruption was 0.84%. Women with abruptio placenta had a higher likelihood of being illiterate, between 20 and 25-year-old, multipara, and receiving inadequate ANC. Accordingly, we recommend raising women’s awareness of the importance of ANC through the media (television and radio) and creating policies to encourage high-quality routine prenatal care for all pregnant women by policymakers, particularly the Ministry of Public Health.