The unbooked patient: a lingering obstetric pathology in Jos, Nigeria

There were 297 unbooked patients constituting 2% of all deliveries in the Jos Teaching Hospital. Mean age and parity were 26.7 +/- 6.8 years and 3.7 +/- 3.0, respectively. Non-literate women accounted for 36.9%, secondary education 26.2% and tertiary education 3.8%. Housewives constituted 81.2% of the mothers. The majority (93%) were married, while 21 (7.1%) were unmarried. Maternal morbidity included pre-term labour (40.1%), intrauterine fetal death (9.1%), abruptio placenta (4.2%) and ante-partum eclampsia (2.8%). Vaginal delivery occurred in 246 (82.8%) and caesarean section in 45 (15.1%). There were five maternal deaths and all died undelivered. There were 78 perinatal deaths (260/1,000 births), and over 65% were due to low birth weight and prematurity. Mean birth weight was 2.5 +/- 0.8 kg and 38.3% were of low birth weight. Unbooked patients remain significant obstetric pathologies in our maternity unit. Community health education is needed to reduce the number of unbooked patients and the associated pathologies.