Placenta praevia: prevalence and risk factors at aminu kano teaching hospital, kano, Nigeria.

Abstract

In an attempt to reduce maternal mortality from obstetric haemorrhage worldwide, obstetrician now offer routine ultrasound scan for placental localization in the mid trimester more readily to pregnant women, especially those who have risk factor(s). Knowledge of the risk factors of placenta praevia in our hospital will be necessary. Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. Methods: This is a case control study of fifty-two women who were confirmed to have placenta praevia (cases) and were compared with the next four women who delivered after without placenta previa (control) from January 2007 to December 2008. The study variables of interest were prevalence, age, and parity of the patients, gestational age, and risk factors of placenta praevia. Chi-square test was used to determine significant association between categorical variables, Results: The prevalence of placenta praevia was found to be 0.7%. Women in the 30-34 years age group (OR- 2.03, CI= 1.02-4.02, P= 0.042), Multiparae (OR= 2.81, CI= 1.42 -5.61, P= 0.002), early pregnancy bleeding (OR= 8.66, CI= 3.73 -20.33, P<0.001), previous uterine/caesarean section scar (OR= 4.21, CI= 1.97 - 9.02, P<0.001) and previous placenta praevia (OR= 4.32, CI= 1.03 -18.11, P= 0.030) all conferred increased risk placenta praevia Conclusion: Maternal age 30-34 years, multiparity, early pregnancy bleeding, previous uterine/caesarean section scar and previous placenta praevia were found to have significant association with placenta praevia in this study.