Retained placenta: a cause of reproductive morbidity in Nigeria

This study analysed the reproductive morbidity associated with 91 cases of retained placenta at the Obafemi Awolowo University Hospital in Nigeria. The incidence of retained placenta in the hospital was 1.4% of all deliveries. Over 42% of the patients were admitted in haemorrhagic shock; 56.5% were anaemic, 10.6% severely; 17% had puerperal sepsis while 67% of the women received blood transfusions. There was one maternal death (1%). Unbooked patients (74%) constituted the largest proportion of cases while inappropriate management of the third stage of labour featured in many of the patients. Retained placenta was treated with manual removal in 90% of cases. Properly supervised delivery is an important component in efforts to reduce the incidence of morbidity associated with retained placenta in Nigeria.