Obstetric outcome of twin pregnancies in Jos, Nigeria

The objectives of the study were to determine the incidence, maternal and foetal outcome of twin delivery in Jos, Nigeria.

All consecutive twin deliveries between August 2003 and November 2004 were studied. Data obtained at the time of delivery included maternal age, parity, gestational age at the time of delivery, foetal Apgar scores at birth, gender/sex and foetal weights.

A total of 3,420 deliveries were conducted and 75 were twin deliveries constituting 2.3%, or 1 in 43 deliveries. The mean age and parity of mothers were 28.96 and 3.20 respectively. Male infants constituted 54.7% of the twins with a sex ratio of 1.206 boys to 1.0 girls. Among the twin deliveries, presentation of cephalic-cephalic for the first and second twins was the most common, (48.0%). Male-male twin pair occurred in 33.3%, male-female twins in 22.7%, female-female in 24%, while female-male twins occurred in 20.0%. Males were first twin in 56.0% and second twin in 53.4%; while females were first twin in 44.0% and second twin in 46.6% of the cases. Caesarean section rate was 41.3% in the overall twin pregnancies. Perinatal mortality was 91 per 1000 deliveries.

The incidence of twin pregnancy in Jos is high. The commonest maternal morbidity was preterm labour and delivery. Foetal low birth weight was present in about three quarters of the infants. Perinatal mortality rate was expectedly increased in the study. Close antenatal and perinatal assessment and care need be given to mothers of twin pregnancies in order to reduce the maternal and foetal complications.