ABSTRACT
Antepartum bleeding of unknown origin (ABUO) seems to be one of the most common causes of bleeding in third trimester of pregnancy, but has not been studied well. Objective : The present study was aimed to study the incidence, management strategies and the perinatal outcome in cases of ABUO. Methods : Cases diagnosed as ABUO and managed at the rural referral hospital over last 5 years were analyzed. The diagnosis of ABUO was by exclusion of placental abruption, placenta previa and possible causes of bleeding in the lower genital tract by clinical and ultrasonographic examination. Results : The incidence of ABUO was 0.60 % of births. Of all cases of antepartum haemorrage 18.1% were of teenage and of ABUO10.3% cases were of teenage cases compared to overall 5% cases teenage. Perinatal Mortality Rate (PMR) in cases of ABUO was 237, significantly higher than overall PMR of 66 (p value <0.001) during the study period. Preterm births were the most common cause of perinatal mortality in ABUO. Conclusion : Women with ABUO may not need special interventions, but when ABUO occurs preterm births and perinatal loss increase ,so deaths due to prematurity need to be prevented.