International Journal of
Nursing and Midwifery

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Nurs. Midwifery
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2456
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJNM
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 214

Full Length Research Paper

Feto-maternal outcomes in obstructed labor in Suhul General Hospital, North Ethiopia

Gebresilasea Gendisha Ukke*
  • Gebresilasea Gendisha Ukke*
  • Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
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Temesgen Worku Gudayu
  • Temesgen Worku Gudayu
  • Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
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Mekdes Kondale Gurara
  • Mekdes Kondale Gurara
  • Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
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Negash Wakgari Amanta
  • Negash Wakgari Amanta
  • School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
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Mulugeta Shegaze Shimbre
  • Mulugeta Shegaze Shimbre
  • Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
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  •  Received: 19 February 2017
  •  Accepted: 03 April 2017
  •  Published: 30 June 2017

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates, obstructed labor and its complications being the leading causes of maternal deaths in the country. This study was aimed at assessing feto-maternal outcomes in obstructed labor in Suhul General Hospital, North Ethiopia. Institution based cross-sectional study was carried out from May 1 to August 31, 2014 in Suhul General Hospital. All mothers who had given birth in the hospital during the study period were included in the study.  Data were collected by using a pre tested structured questionnaire and checklists, entered into Epi Info version 7.1.2.0 and finally transported in to SPSS version 20 software package for analysis. A total of 660 mothers had given birth in the hospital during the study period out of which 44(6.7%) were diagnosed as obstructed labor cases.  More than 89% of the mothers with obstructed labor and about 93% of the babies born to them had developed at least one complication. Eighteen (40.9%) of the babies were stillbirths or had died immediately after delivery. Postpartum hemorrhaged and puerperal sepsis 25(56.8%) each and uterine rupture 11(25%) were the main maternal complications among the mothers with obstructed labor. Cesarean birth (68%), hysterectomy (20%), destructive delivery (7%) and repair of the ruptured uterus with bilateral tubal ligation in 5% were interventions done for the mothers with obstructed labor. Inaccessibility of vehicle road and time the women stayed at health centers before they were referred to the hospital have shown association with poor maternal outcomes in Fisher’s Exact test. Prevalence of obstructed labor in Suhul general hospital is high with high rate of maternal and fetal complications. Improving vehicle road accessibility and giving training for health centers delivery case teams on when to refer laboring mother to the hospitals is needed in order to decease proportion of Obstructed labor  and it sequels. 

Key words: Obstructed labor, Ethiopia, low income country, maternal mortality.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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