A prospective study of causes and outcome of high risk pregnancies inreferred patients in a tertiary health care centre of southern Rajasthan

Abstract

Objective: The present study was conducted in a tertiary care health centre of southern Rajasthan to assess the prevalence of referred high risk pregnancy in the region and its outcome.

Material & Methods: 200 high risk pregnancies referred to our tertiary healthcare centre during the study period, which were not registered in our antenatal record; with gestation of ≥ 28 weeks were included in the study. Obstetric outcomes were assessed in terms of maternal mortality and mode of delivery while neonatal outcomes were assessed in terms of incidences of intrauterine deaths, still births and live births.

Results: Age of the patients’ ranges from 18 to 45 years with the mean age of 24.7 years. 73.5% of the cases in present study were belonged to rural society while 26.5% cases belonged to urban society. The most common cause for referral of the patients in present study was history of previous LSCS (31%) followed by anaemia (16%), hypertensive disorder of the pregnancy (9%) and bad obstetric history (9%).44.5% of the study participants had normal delivery while 54% had caesarean sections and the rest 1.5% had instrumental delivery (vacuum or forceps delivery). 200 study participants gave birth to 203 neonates (included 3 twin births). 97% were the live birth while 3% had intrauterine death and the rest 1.5% were stillborn.

Conclusion: Early detection of high risk pregnancies at primary health care level with proper antenatal services and referral system is advisable to improve fetomaternal outcome.