Comparison of Pregnancy Outcomes of Booked and Unbooked Patients in the Niger Delta

ABSTRACT

Background:Sub-Saharan African countries have some of the worst maternal mortality ratios in the world sub-regions. Uncoordinated antenatal care practices and delivery outside health institutions are some of the determinants of thesedeaths experienced in the region. The objective of the study is todetermine some of these erring behavioral antenatal practices that are inimical to good obstetric outcomes and how health care planners can use the results to close thesegaps of maternal mortality and save lives.Method:This study was a cross sectional retrospective study of the women who delivered at The Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, between 1 st June,2021 to 1st June, 2022. The study compared the maternal and fetal outcomes between the booked andunbooked patients who delivered during this period. Relevant data to the study were extracted from patients' medicalrecords using a proforma and data collected entered SPSS Version 25 foranalysis.Results:Three hundred and forty-six patients participated in the stud, 72.3 % were booked and 27.7%were unbooked. Place of delivery N = 253, 75.5 % delivered in health facilities and 24.5 in non-Health facilities. Unbooked patients have prolonged labor lasting more than 24 hours, suffered more blood loss during delivery, their babies have more unfavorable one minute Apgar, all compared to outcomes of the booked patientsConclusion:Booked patients have more favorable pregnancy outcomes compared to the unbooked patients. Health care planners and care providers should devote more time and resources to unbooked patients to have favorable pregnancy outcomes: