COMPLICATIONS DURING PREGNANCY

Complications during pregnancy are a great risk to the lives of mothers and their unborn babies. Every year approximately 529,000 women die from complications of pregnancy and child birth. In Uganda between 6,500 and 13,500 women and girls die each year due to pregnancy related complications. This book reveals the common complications as obstructed labor(17.0%),pelvic bleeding(7.6%), abnormal lie(5.1%),abortion(4.8%),anemia(3.0%) and diabetes(2.5%). Malaria infection is strongly associated with complications(RR=1.744,p=0.00), pelvic inflammatory disease(RR=2.75,p=0.000) and syphilis(RR=1.382,p=0.020). Age at first pregnancy, number of pregnancies, and occupation are also related with increase in complications. It is therefore recommended that health bodies control the spread of malaria and effectivey management cases for malaria illness and anemia. Sensitization about the dangers of STIs and proper treatment should also be encouraged.