1. Maternal Profiles and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study from Angola.
- Author
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Oliveira, Dinamene, de Oliveira, José Martinez, Martins, Maria do Rosário, Barroso, Maria Rosalina, Castro, Rita, Cordeiro, Lemuel, and Pereira, Filomena
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HOSPITALS , *LITERACY , *HYPERTENSION , *HYPERTENSION in pregnancy , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *SCIENTIFIC observation , *RESEARCH methodology , *CROSS-sectional method , *URINARY tract infections , *WOMEN , *PATIENTS , *INTERVIEWING , *HOSPITAL admission & discharge , *PREGNANCY outcomes , *SURVEYS , *MALARIA , *RISK assessment , *TYPHOID fever , *PERINATAL death , *SYMPTOMS , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *MATERNAL age , *ANEMIA , *BIRTH weight , *RESEARCH funding , *LABOR (Obstetrics) , *CESAREAN section , *MATERNAL mortality , *ASPHYXIA neonatorum , *DATA analysis software , *GROWTH disorders , *MULTIPLE pregnancy , *DISEASE risk factors - Abstract
Objectives: To characterize pregnant women admitted to Irene Neto Maternity Hospital, Lubango city, Huíla province, and their pregnancy outcomes. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional facility-based survey between October 2016 and September 2017, involving 500 pregnant women, followed from admission in labor until the end of delivery. Mean (SD) was computed for quantitative variables, while relative and absolute frequencies were determined for categorical variables. Additionally, confidence intervals were estimated. Results: Among pregnant women 18.3% were adolescents (≤ 19 years) and 14.5% had advanced maternal age (≥ 35 years). Illiteracy was reported by 8.2%. One in three (33.6%) had a short stature (< 1.55 m). Malaria was the most frequent infection during pregnancy (16.3%). Upon admission, 18.1% were anemic (Hb < 11 g/dl) and 36.0% had hypertension (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg), contrasting with the few cases reported of chronic hypertension and pregnancy-induced hypertension. There were 15 twin pregnancies. Cesarean section was performed in 25.2% of the women, although there was no medical indication for 23.0% of women having cesareans. Two maternal deaths occurred in our sample. Among live births from singleton pregnancies (97.1%), birth asphyxia (Apgar < 7 at 5 min) was observed in 22.7% and 10.3% had low birth weight (< 2.5 kg). Conclusions: There are very few studies reporting pregnancy outcomes in Angola. This analysis presents data from Huíla province, the second most populous province. We identified characteristics for higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: adolescence, illiteracy, and short stature. Among newborn outcomes, birth asphyxia and low birth weight demand special attention. Further research is needed to explore the non-medical indications for cesarean section and to better understand the twinning rate in Lubango. Significance: The significance of this paper is that it is one of the very few reports contributing for the knowledge of detailed maternal, obstetric and newborn outcomes in Angolan women. Although our study only addresses the outcomes descriptively, it can be used as a first step in monitoring and improving outcomes of Angolan women. Maternal and child health is a key issue to address sustainable development in Angola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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