PREGNANCY OUTCOME AMONG GRAND MULTIPAROUS WOMEN IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN ABUJA

Dr. Jibrin I. B., Dr. Isah A. Y. and Dr. Abdullahi I. H.*

ABSTRACT

Background: Grandmultiparity is believed to be associated with increased risk of poor maternal and perinatal outcomes. It is a source of anxiety for the obstetrician who is always on His/her toes to ensure that these complications are averted or reduced to the barest minimum. Objective: To evaluate the pregnancy outcomes among grand-multiparous women compared with those of multipara at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja. Materials and Methods: This was a two (2) year retrospective, case-control study of outcome of pregnancy in 182 grand-multiparous women at university of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja between January 1st, 2013 and December 31st, 2014. Relevant information was retrieved from labour, postnatal, and neonatal ward records as well as theatre records. The results were presented and discussed using simple percentages. A p- value < 0.05 was considered statistical significant. Results: There were a total of 3,469 deliveries during the study period with 182 (5.3%) of these women as grand-multiparous women. The mean age was 33.0 ± 5.7 years with the modal age group as ≥ 35 years (44%). Hypertensive disorder (7.7%) was the commonest medical disorder in pregnancy among the study population. Ruptured uterus, abruption-placenta and postpartum haemorrhage were the commonest complications constituting 12.0% of all complications. The maternal mortality ratio was 3,333/100,000 live birth. Conclusion: Grand-multiparity and its complications remain a peculiar challenge in modern Obstetric practice with unimaginable high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Emphasis on female education and liberal use of family planning services should be strengthened to reduce high prevalence of grand multiparity and its attendant complications.

Keywords: Grand-multiparity, maternal, perinatal, Pregnancy, Outcome, UATH.