Prevalence and Outcome of Obstructed Labour at a Tertiary Institution

Abstract

Obstructed labour is a common preventable causes of both maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries affecting 3-6% labouring women globally and accounts for an estimated 8% of maternal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Objective: To determine the prevalence and outcome of obstructed labour in the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department at a tertiary hospital in Northern Uganda. Method: This was a retrospective chart review of pregnant women admitted in labour and delivered by caesarean section from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2017 at a Lira Regional Referral Hospital, a tertiary institution in Lango Sub region. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16.0. Results: A total of 808 medical charts of mothers with obstructed labour were retrieved, evaluated and included in this review out of 12,189 deliveries during the study period, giving a prevalence of 6.6%. Majority (77%; 622/808) mothers admitted with diagnosis of obstructed were referred in from peripheral facilities. Over half (53.4%) of the women were in the age group of 20 to 29 years. Over 53%, were prime gravidae and were twice more likely to undergo C/S due to obstructed labour than multigravidas (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.5-2.2). Only 49.2% had documented cause of obstructed labour, with Cephalo-pelvic disproportion being most common (17.5%), malposition/mal-presentation (14.6%), and macrosomia (3.6%). Partograph was used in only 46.6% (374) women who had obstructed labour. The commonest maternal complication observed were Sepsis (11%), PPH (5.2%), uterine rupture (4%) and burst abdomen (3%) which led to prolonged hospital stay and loss of fertility to some. Mode of delivery in the 808 reviewed charts was caesarean section, 90.3% of babies were born alive, while 8.5% (69) were born dead, (1.2%) had early neonatal, and 40.2% were referred Paediatric Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) because of low APGAR score. Conclusion: The prevalence of obstructed labour among women delivered by Caesarean section was high compared to the global average. Majority of the women were referrals from the peripheral health centres and associated with life threatening complications and even death. Young age and prime gravida is associated with obstructed labour and high caesarean section rates. The obstruction in multigravida could be due to secondary cephalo-pelvic disproportion as majority of the babies were in normal range weight. Low use of Partograph to monitor labour was evident among women who had obstructed.