Puerperal and neonatal health problems: incidence and some affecting factors

ABSTRACT

A study of puerperal and neonatal health problems was undertaken at two maternal-child health centers [MCH] in Alexandria 146 women were interviewed during their visits or child immunization. Factors such as age, education, employment, ante-natal care, birth interval, place of birth, type of birth, pregnancy complications and birth attendant were analysed in relation to the incidence of puerperal and neonatal health problems. The study revealed an incidence of 15.8% for puerperal health problems and 11% for neonatal health problems. Three main puerperal problems were reported mastitis and/or breast abcess, post partum haemorrhage and puerperal sepsis. Four neonatal problems were evident among the study group infections and inflammations of eyes, umbilical stump and buttocks area as well as diarrhea. Both neonatal and puerperal health problems had occurred more among elderly [> 35 years] working women with a short [< 2 years] birth interval, who had a home birth that was attended by a professional person. The results of this study, therefore, are in favor of the trained traditional birth attendants, pregnancy before 35 years of age and child spacing. Neonatal health problems had occurred more to neonates of educated mothers unlike the puerperal health problems that had occurred more among the less educated mothers. The opposite pattern was observed with parity