Twin Delivery: Comparison of Incidence and Foetal Outcome in Two Health Institutions in Benin City; Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Background: The incidence of twin delivery in Nigeria may have changed; in view of the worldwide increase in the rates of twinning attributed to increasing maternal age and use of fertility therapies. Objective: To determine the current incidence of twin delivery in Benin City and document the foetal outcome in twins. Methods: A four-year descriptive (cross-sectional) study of twin deliveries in a Nigerian mission hospital was conducted. The foetal outcome in 115 sets of twin was compared with that of 230 singleton controls. Results: The current incidence of twin delivery was 25.3 per 1000 deliveries or one in 40 births; representing a reduction by 24.2. Sex ratio was 0.98 1 in favour of females. Seasonal variation was observed in the incidence of twin delivery with a significantly higher incidence in wet than in dry season p