Prognostic Factors for Obstetrical Emergencies Received at the Regional Hospital of Saint-Louis in Senegal: A Retrospective, Cross-sectional and Descriptive Study

Abstract

The objective of this work was to identify prognostic factors for obstetrical emergencies received at the Regional Hospital of Saint-Louis. The one-year retrospective, cross-sectional, and descriptive investigation was based on the archives (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018). The absolute and relative frequencies of each qualitative variable were calculated using a confidence interval. Thus, were filled in: the socio-demographic profile of the woman, the conditions of evacuation, and the care. Out of 5822 collected files, there were 1364 evacuations (23.43%). The majority of women were under 25 years of age (42.53%), unschooled (60.92%), married (97.73%), low-income (96.68%), first-time pregnant (37.91%), prim parous (38.57%), with a full-term pregnancy (85.28%) and less than 4 prenatal consultations (56.02%).

The most common pathologies were dystocic (20.16%), hypertensive (18.40%), and hemorrhagic (8.65%). Medical treatment (72.87%) was dominated by vascular filling, antibiotic and antihypertensive medication, blood transfusion, and magnesium sulphate injection. Gynaeco-obstetrical treatment concerned 42 abortions, 834 deliveries and 303 caesareans; for a total of 1179 cases (86.44%). The surgery involved 22 laparotomies (including 7 hysterectomies), 5 perineal recoveries, and 3 others; for a total of 30 cases (2.20%). Hospitalization, on average 2.34 days, resulted in maternal mortality for 14 cases (1.26%) and perinatal mortality for 157 cases (13.81%). Improving the issue necessitates a more informed populace as well as a more coordinated network of "obstetric and neonatal emergency care / soins obstétricaux et néonatals d’urgence (SONU)" services: medical transport, sufficient and upgraded staff, better maternity and neonatology, correct filled databases.