Antepartum haemorrhage: Feto-maternal outcome review at a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Antepartum haemorrhage (APH) is an obstetric emergency which contributes significantly to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality globally, particularly in the developing world. Prevention, early detection, and prompt management cannot be overemphasized in the attempt to significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence, aetiology, sociodemographic characteristics, and the feto-maternal outcome of pregnancies complicated by APH. It was a descriptive retrospective study which was carried out on managed cases of antepartum haemorrhage at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. A total of 62 cases of APH were recorded out of the 2,375 cases admitted for delivery during the study period, giving an institutional prevalence rate of 2.6%. The most common causes were placenta praeviae and abruptio placentae, constituting 61.3% and 38.7%, respectively. Sociodemographic characteristics associated with the occurrence of APH included age, booking status, parity, and socioeconomic status. The peak prevalence of APH was observed in the 31–35 year age group accounting for 38.7%. There were 58 live births and 6 stillbirths. The caesarean section rate was 95.2%. Major complications were, postpartum haemorrhage in 72.7% and intrauterine fetal deaths in 27.3%. Within the study period 62.9% were transfused and there was no maternal death. The prevalence of APH in our setting is higher than 1%. The major causes were placenta praevia and abruptio placenta. The main fetal and maternal complications were intrauterine fetal death, and postpartum haemorrhage, respectively.