Maternal and fetal prognosis of full-term parturients referred in emergency to the Sylvanus Olympio teaching Hospital of Lomé (Togo)

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of the pregnancy and the fetus in full-term parturients referred in emergency to the CHU SO.

Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of parturients referred to the Gynaecology-Obstetrics Clinic of the CHU SO, from 1st February to 31 July 2021.

Results: A total of 5744 parturients were received, 605 were referred urgently and managed in the department, representing a prevalence of 10.5%. The average age of the parturients was 27.3 + 5.8 years. There was a significant association between the length of stay in the periphery (8.2 + 3.97 hours), the time taken to arrive at the CHU SO (1.03 + 0.97 hours) and the average length of stay at the CHU SO (69.9 + 37.02 minutes) among the deceased parturients (p value <0.05). The rate of maternal death was 12% in parturients who presented with eclampsia with a significant p-value (p <0.00001). There was a significant association between time to arrive at the CHUSO, duration of care at the CHUSO and fetal prognosis (p value = 0.046).

Conclusion: The prevention of maternal and fetal mortality requires the reduction of the three delays in care. The implementation of a health fleet system as well as medicalised ambulances between peripheral maternity hospitals and referral centers could improve obstetric referrals in Togo.