Research Article
Ashenafi Habte Woyessa, Jote M
Abstract
Aim: In Ethiopia very little or probably nothing is known about significance of obstetric emergencies. This study was therefore aimed at assessing magnitude, characteristics, and outcomes of obstetric emergencies in western Ethiopia. Methods: Institution based prospective study was employed from January to June, 2017. To select the hospitals, area sampling technique was used. Total of 567 pregnant women with obstetric emergencies presented and treated in respective hospitals during the study periods and meet the inclusion criteria were consecutively included. Result: Majority (91.7%) of the identified obstetric emergencies have led to termination of pregnancy. Significant proportions (11%) of pregnant women who reached health facility were died of obstetric emergencies. Pregnant women with obstetric emergencies travelled to facility carried by people r were found to die about 8 times more likely as compared to those who transported by ambulance. While 29.21% were normal life births, still birth and neonatal death were 8.02% and 7.4% respectively. Higher number of neonatal death was also observed among mothers in whom final mode of delivery was cesarean section (AOR: 0.19(0.05, 0.62) compared to spontaneous vaginal delivery. Conclusion: This study revealed that obstetric emergencies are responsible for significant number of maternal and perinatal death. If the women have been accessed early and received optimum emergency care, many cases of the occurred death would have been prevented. Better outcome can be achieved through maximum utilization of quality and comprehensive antenatal care and organized pre-hospital obstetric emergency services.