ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Breech delivery is generally associated with higher perinatal morbidity and mortality than cephalic presentation. Hence describing the outcomes of singleton term breech deliveries in Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC), Southwest Ethiopia addresses in recommendation of improving perinatal outcomes and developing protocols in selecting eligible women. RESULTS: The incidence of singleton term breech delivery was 5.3%. Majority, (52.8%) of them had undergone emergency cesarean delivery (C/D), and 38.9% had vaginal breech delivery. There were 14 (13.9%) intrapartum fetal deaths of whom 5.6% were recorded at JUMC. A quarter (25%) of the neonates required admission to the neonatal intensive care unit; 40.7% had perinatal asphyxia, and there were 3 early onset neonatal deaths making up a perinatal mortality rate of 157.4 per 1000 breech births. The incidence of breech delivery was relatively high. Vaginal breech delivery was lower. Significant proportions of adverse perinatal outcomes were recorded. Introduction of a protocol for managing breech deliveries to select eligible women for trial of breech delivery and strengthen training of junior health professionals regularly on how to conduct assisted vaginal breech delivery to improve perinatal outcome is recommended. Further studies to identify determinants of perinatal outcomes is recommended.
