Deliveries at a district hospital in Rwanda, 1997-2000

To obtain data on pregnancy outcomes and maternal mortality at a district hospital in Rwanda.

All delivery records from January 1997 to December 2000 were reviewed.

Over the 4-year period, 3408 women delivered a total of 3497 neonates, and 349 stillbirths (10%) occurred. The mean birthweight (twins excluded) was 3097 g and decreased significantly from 3160 g in 1997 to 3043 g in 2000. The prevalence of low birthweight was 12.5%. The mean age of women was 26.2 years. Cesarean section was done in 26% of deliveries at the hospital, equaling a cesarean section rate of 1.1% in the population. Nineteen maternal deaths occurred, yielding a (hospital) maternal mortality rate of 600 per 100000 live births. Uterine rupture occurred in 52 women, of whom six died (11.5%).

Efforts to educate women at risk to deliver at a health center, and early referral of women to the hospital should be reinforced. The reduction of mean birthweight is of concern and reasons for this need to be analyzed.