·
Although
considerable attention has been given to maternal mortality, very little
concern has been expressed for maternal morbidity.
·
It
has been estimated that for one maternal death at least 15 more suffer from
severe morbidities.
·
As
such, about an optimistic 5-7 million women suffer a severely impaired quality of
life as a result of short term or long term disability.
Definition: Obstetric morbidity originates from any cause related to
pregnancy or its management any time during antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum
period usually up to 42 days after confinement.
The parameters of
maternal morbidity are
(l) Fever more than 100.4F or 38C and continuing more than 24
hours
(2) Blood pressure more than 140/90 mm of Hg
(3) Recurrent vaginal bleeding
(4) Hb% less than 10.5g irrespective of gestational period
(5) Asymptomatic bacteriuria of pregnancy.
Classification:
l. Direct obstetric morbidity - Temporary, Permanent.
2. Indirect obstetric morbidity
Direct obstetric morbidity:
Temporary: Antepartum hemorrhage, Postpartum
hemorrhage, eclampsia, obstructed labor, rupture uterus, sepsis, ectopic
pregnancy, molar pregnancy.
Permanent: Vesico-vaginal fistula,
Rectovaginal fistula, dyspareunia, prolapse, secondary infertility.
Indirect obstetric morbidity: Expressions of aggravated previous
existing diseases like malaria, hepatitis, tuberculosis, anemia.
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