A longitudinal study on high risk pregnancy and its outcome among antenatal women attending a tertiary health centre

Abstract

Background: Almost 15% of all pregnant women can develop potentially life-threatening complications. As a result, identification of high-risk pregnancy at earliest stage will be useful in directing appropriate intervention. Hence, the current study was done to determine the prevalence and outcome of high-risk pregnancy among antenatal women in rural Hyderabad. Materials and Methods: A record-based longitudinal study was done during March 2018 among 569 antenatal women who have attended rural health center of tertiary care institute. High-risk pregnancy was classified based on the guidelines from Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan and outcome assessment based on the obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Results: More than half of the pregnant women 288, 51% were in the age group of 20–25 years and about 9% was adolescent pregnancy; more than half 350, 64% were multigravida pregnancy; about 344, 60% were multiparous woman. Majority 448 [79%] had term delivery. Most common mode of delivery was spontaneous vaginal delivery 69% followed by lower segment cesarean section 29%. Neonatal outcomes were assessed based on the status of child and birth weight. Among obstetric outcomes, type of delivery was found to be significantly associated with high-risk pregnancy with preterm 35% vs. 11.0% more prevalent among high-risk pregnancy when compared to normal pregnancy P = 0.004 and post term delivery was equally associated. Conclusion: The current study found that almost one-fifth of the pregnant women in rural area have high-risk pregnancy. Unfavorable obstetric and neonatal outcomes were common among high-risk cases. Hence, early detection of high-risk pregnancy needs to be done at primary health-care level to improve the maternal, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes.