PREVALENCE, TYPES AND PATTERN OF PRESENTATION OF ANTEPARTUM HAEMORRHAGE AT USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL SOKOTO: A FIVE-YEAR REVIEW

Ukwu Aaron Eze, Mayana Abubakar Usman*, Yakubu Ahmad, Abdullahi Umar Adoke, Muhammad Asma’u Isah, Hassan Mairo, Kingsley Ogbonna Abonyi and Adibe Ngozi Martha

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Antepartum haemorrhage (APH) a major obstetric emergency contributing greatly to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality especially in the developing world. It is defined as bleeding from the genital tract after the age of viability and before delivery of the baby. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence, types, pattern of presentation and the fetomaternal outcome of pregnancies complicated by APH at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Methodology: A 5-year retrospective review of all pregnancies complicated by antepartum haemorrhage at UDUTH was conducted. The case files were traced and relevant information were obtained. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21. Level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 378 cases of antepartum haemorrhage were recorded out of the 14689 cases admitted for delivery during the study period. Among the cases, 360 folders were analyzed giving a retrieval rate of 95.2%. Prevalence of APH was 2.6%. The mean gestational age at presentation was 28.2 ± 2 weeks and the most common causes of APH were abruptio placenta, placenta previa, local causes and haemorrhage of undetermined origin constituting 52.5%, 45.5%, 1.4% and 0.6%. There was a significant association between APH and maternal age, booking status, parity, and socioeconomic status. APH was highest among 20-34-year age group. There were 255 live births and 94 stillbirths. The cesarean section rate was 61.4%. Major complications were intrauterine fetal deaths in 26.9%, postpartum hemorrhage in 30.8% of cases, and anemia 63.1%. The case fatality rate was 3% (9 maternal deaths). Conclusion: In our environment, APH was very common. It has a high rate of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Antepartum Hemorrhage, UDUTH, Sokoto.