Multiparity, perinatal morbidity and mortality

Multiparity as a medical and social problem has been drawing the attention of gynecologists in many countries, especially those with a tendency towards hyper populations, and simultaneously of clinicians in developed countries who want to examine and prevent all causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality.

The aim of our research was to examine the influence of multiparty (delivery of six or more children) on perinatal morbidity and mortality.

The study included all women who delivered a child at the Gynecological Clinic of the Faculty of Medicine in Pristina during 1992 and 1993 (a total of 12,532). The limit for grand multiparty was set at delivery of six or more children. The analysis included only those factors which possibly affected the vitality of a newborn.

Analysis of the national structure showed that multiparity is characteristic of women of Albanian nationality: it is in reverse proportion to the level of education, the number of live births at the clinic is different from the number of live births in the general population, the percent age of hypotrophic children as well as children with lower body mass is much higher in multiparity, whereas parity and cesarean section very rarely have negative effects on the body mass of newborns. The Apgar score of newborns is irrepressibly falling depending on the number of deliveries. Respiratory system disturbances, damage of the central nervous system, congenital anomalies incompatible with life as well as mother and infant mortality are all highly relevant for statistics.

From a medical point of view, multiparity represents an increased risk both for newborns and mothers. Perinatal morbidity and mortality have increased and the high risk for a woman during pregnancy, delivery and puerperium has been simultaneously rising until the pregnant woman's life is highly endangered.