Risk profile of pregnant mothers in the coastal area of Udupi Taluk, India

ABSTRACT

A demographic and obstetric profile of pregnant mothers attending the Rural Maternity and Child Welfare homes was carried out through a cross- sectional study. In 613 registered pregnant mothers, the prevalence of risk factors related to age of the mother, parity, weight, haemoglobin level and Rh negative blood group, bad obstetric history and pregnancy related diseases were analysed. Prevalence of teenage pregnancy and primigravida accounted for 7 and 34.7 percent respectively. Nearly 17 percent of mothers had weight less than 40 kg and 28 percent of mothers were found to be anaemic [HB less than 8 gm%]. Twenty percent of the mothers did not have even a single risk factor whereas 33.8 percent of mothers had at least one risk factor and 20 percent had multiple risk factors of 3 or more. Previous bad obstetric history, pregnancy related diseases and Rh negative blood group accounted for 9.2, 3.9 and 2.7 percent respectively