Maternal Risk Factors & Perinatal Outcomes in Women with Placenta Previa: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and objectives: Placenta previa is one of the main factors in adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study was conducted to determine risk factors for placenta previa and subsequent maternal and perinatal outcomes. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Maternity Teaching Hospital, Erbil City, Kurdistan region, Iraq, from August 2020 to August 2021. Sixty Patients with placenta previa who presented with antepartum hemorrhage after 24 weeks of gestational age were included in the study. Participants underwent complete obstetrical and clinical assessment including history of risk factors, general physical, abdominal and pelvic examinations. Imaging methods used included transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound. Patients were managed according to maternal and fetal conditions, and any maternal and fetal complications were recorded. Results: previous history of placenta previa was observed in 16.7% and previous cesarean section in 60% of women. Maternal outcome was good in majority (91.7%) of cases. Hysterectomy was performed on two women (3.3%). Emergency caesarean section was performed on 58.3% of women, and elective caesarean section was performed on 36.7% of women and neonatal death rate was 66.7% among those delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery. Greater gestational age, lesser neonatal death rate. Women with grade IV placenta previa had worse neonatal and maternal outcomes than women with lower grades of placenta previa. Conclusion: A higher incidence of placenta previa is seen in patients with previous cesarean section, advanced maternal age, and high parity. No significant association was detected between neonatal outcomes and maternal risk factors.