Epidemiology of maternal mortality in Saudi Arabia

A three year maternal mortality survey in Saudi Arabia has identified the various epidemiologic risk factors for maternal deaths. Unbooked, uneducated and economically underprivileged females were at increased risk of maternal death, especially >para 7 females, who were found to be at increased risk of maternal death, particularly deaths due to hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism and uterine rupture. In Saudi Arabia, there are contradictory risk factors for maternal death; e.g. low female literacy rate, early marriage and unregulated high fertility, and affluence which has brought about improvements in all walks of life including health services. Increasing the number of booked patients, especially among the elderly grand multipara, improving the quality of emergency obstetric services and achieving a higher female education rate are likely to bring the present maternal mortality ratio [MMR] of 18 per 100,000 births down to a minimum. The MMR obtained in this study compared favorably with those of the oil-producing Gulf countries and the developing and developed countries of the world

Multiple pregnancy management: the King Khalid University Hospital experience

This review analyzes the multiple pregnancies in King Khalid University Hospital [KKUH] from January 1985 to December 1989. Over this period, the incidence of multiple pregnancy was found to be 10.25/1000. The study confirms a higher incidence of complications among multiple pregnancy cases. For example, the cesarean section rate was 32.2% as compared with 3.6% for the single pregnancies, and the neonatal deaths occurred in a higher number [3.3%] as compared to 1.0% in the controls. However, even though the overall prematurity rate [

Fetal biparietal diameter in Saudi Arabia

In a prospective, cross-sectional study the fetal biparietal diameter [BPD] was measured by ultrasound in 1,570 pregnant Saudi patients. Tables for normal growth of the BPD and to estimate the fetal age are given. It has long been a question as to what extent normal growth curves depend on the racial and socioeconomic factors of the population being studied. The BPD-growth curve obtained in Saudi Arabia is compared to curves for other countries. Our curve is almost identical to the Japanese and some American curves; however, dating errors of the fetal age are possible when an inappropriate chart is used. Ethnic factors influence growth curves less than methodical or interindividual contributions