Caesarean Morbidity and Mortality in a Private Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Context: Nigerian patients have aversion to caesarean section. However, with better education and increasing safety of the procedure, the acceptability rate appears to be increasing. To sustain this acceptability, adverse outcome from caesarean section must be reduced to the barest minimum.


Objectives: To determine the incidence, morbidity and mortality associated with caesarean section in our centre.


Study Design, Setting and Subjects: A 2-year descriptive study (July 2000-June 2002) from a private hospital in Lagos Nigeria. All mothers that were delivered by caesarean section were included.


Main Outcome Measures: Indications for surgery, Postoperative complications.


Results: There were 391(34.6%) women who had caesarean sections out of 1129 deliveries in the hospital during the period. Postoperative complications occurred in 61 cases (15.6%). All reproductive age groups and parity were involved. The common complications were infectious morbidity (10.8%) postpartum haemorrhage (8.1%), prolonged hospital stay (6.8%)and postpartum anaemia (4.8%). The caesarean section related mortality rate in the hospital was 0.51%.


Conclusion: Though the morbidity and mortality was less than previously reported in our environment, it is high when viewed in the context of the excellent facilities available in our centre and the nature of the patients who come there for treatment.


Key Words: Caesarean Section, Maternal Mortality, Morbidity.


[Trop J Obstet Gynaecol, 2002, 19: 97-100]