Obstetric indices at a Private University Teaching Hospital in Jos, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Clinical audit of maternity services to ascertain the obstetric indices is vital for improvement in the quality of obstetric care. This study sought to determine the obstetric indices in an emerging private teaching hospital in Nigeria. Methodology: This was a retrospective review of obstetric records at Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos over a 3‑year period. Data were extracted from the wards and intensive care unit records, delivery and operation registers and analyzed using SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: There were 3817 deliveries conducted during the period under review. The mean age of the women was 29.3 ± 5.2 years and 78.3% of them booked for antenatal care. The cesarean section rate was 31.5%, instrumental vaginal delivery rate was 1.2%, and episiotomy rate was 19.5%. The most common indications for caesarean section were failure to progress in labor (19.7%), obstructed labor (11.6%) and previous successful obstetric fistula repair (11.2%). The average birth weight was 3.4 ± 0.6 kg, while 17.5% of the babies were macrocosmic. Male:Female babies’ ratio was 1.1:1 and the twinning rate was 2.3% of all deliveries. Maternal mortality ratio was 530/100,000 live births, while the stillbirth rate was 3.5%. Severe preeclampsia/eclampsia was the commonest cause of maternal death. Conclusion: Most of the obstetric indices are comparable to those from other teaching hospitals in Nigeria. It is however essential to review intra‑partum management of parturients in order to decrease cesarean deliveries arising from failure to progress in labor in this maternity unit.