Perinatal Outcomes of Newborns by Women Presenting with Maternal Complications in Pregnancy at a County Referral Hospital in Lower Eastern Kenya

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND Maternal complications during pregnancy and labor have been the leading cause of maternal and neonatal death globally. The aim of the study was to observe and compare the differences in the perinatal outcomes of newborns born to women with maternal complications to those born to women without complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a prospective hospital-based paired cohort study. A total of 510 pregnant women were followed up and their newborns' outcomes recorded. 102 had complications and 408 did not have complications. RESULTS Thirteen percent (n=17) of women with complications and 9% (n=34) of women without complications were aged between 13 to 19 years. Forty five percent n=45 of the respondents were followed for maternal care related to fetus and amniotic cavity and possible delivery-related complications. CONCLUSION Teenagers and women aged above 34 years in pregnancy were at a higher risk of presenting with maternal complications. Women referred from hard to reach constituencies of the county were more likely to present with complications in pregnancy. Maternal care related to amniotic fluid cavity complications was the leading maternal complications in pregnancy followed by edema with proteinuria complications. RECOMMENDATIONS Governments and non-governmental organizations should put more emphasis on youth friendly services to reduce maternal complications associated with teenage pregnancy. There should also be more investment on infrastructure to make referral systems easy and avoid the second delay among women with maternal complications. African Journal of Health Sciences Volume 34, Issue No.4, July- August 2021 438 Moreover, women presenting with maternal complications in pregnancy at all levels of care should be closely followed up to avert cases of intra-uterine fetal deaths before and during labor.