Perinatal outcome among elderly nulliparae at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

Maternal and perinatal health is influenced by sociodemographic factors including maternal age, parity, social class and ethnicity. Elderly nulliparity is considered traditionally, to be high risk and has not been evaluated in our centre. The objective of our study was to determine the perinatal outcome in the elderly nullipara at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

This was a two-year retrospective case controlled study. The study population consisted of all nulliparae aged 35 years and above who delivered in the hospital during the period and the control group consisted of all nulliparae less than 35 years of age. The chi2-test was used for comparison of both groups and statistical significance set at p values of P < or = 0.05.

Fifty-nine (2%) of 2967 women who delivered during the period were elderly nulliparae. They accounted for 4.8% of all nulliparae. Compared to other nulliparae, there was no significant difference in the rate of preterm delivery (21.8% vs. 25.8%; p = 0.6), postterm delivery (9.1% vs. 17.3%; p = 0.2), caesarean section rate (41% vs. 32.8%; p = 0.3), low birth weight (5.2% vs. 11.6%; p = 0.2), macrosomia (10.3% vs. 5.7%; p = 0.2), still birth rate (0% vs. 3.2%), birth asphyxia (31% vs. 25.4%; p = 0.4), and sex ratios of babies. There were no congenital malformations in both groups.

Elderly nulliparae are not at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome compared to younger nulliparae in our hospital.