Risk factors and outcomes of ectopic pregnancies at lautech teaching hospital, ogbomoso, nigeria: five years review

Abstract

An ectopic pregnancy is a frequently occurring gynecological illness that poses a significant risk to the mother's health and can be life-threatening. It is the most prevalent emergency during early pregnancy and is connected with a high incidence of maternal morbidity and mortality globally. The objective of this study is to analyze the risk factors and outcomes of ectopic pregnancies at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, located in Ogbomoso, Southwestern Nigeria, over a period of five years. This study is a retrospective analysis of women who were admitted and treated for ectopic pregnancy at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020. Sociology-demographic variables, risk factors, clinical features, postoperative outcomes, and duration of hospital stay were obtained from medical records using a structured proforma. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 24 to compute frequencies, percentages, means and inferential statistics for hypothesis testing. The occurrence of ectopic pregnancy accounted for 5.23% of all admissions related to gynecological issues, with an incidence rate of 1.68%. The patients’ mean age was 29.84. The most often reported symptom was amenorrhea, with a prevalence of 100%. This was followed in sequence by abdominal pain (96.4%), dizziness (80.9%), fainting attack (60.9%), and shoulder tip discomfort (60%). The most prevalent risk factors observed were pelvic inflammatory disease (61.8%), prior abdominal surgery (43.6%), patient's number of previous pregnancies (41.8%), and history of induced abortion (38.2%). There were no deaths registered. The most often encountered complication was hypovolemic shock. Ectopic pregnancy is still a serious reproductive health issue for women in this region, serving as one of the primary causes of maternal morbidity throughout the early stages of pregnancy. To effectively address the increasing problem of pelvic inflammatory disease and unwanted pregnancy in this specific area, it is crucial to intensify efforts in promoting reproductive health advocacy initiatives.