FETAL OUTCOMES AMONG GRAND MULTIPAROUS AND MULTIPAROUS WOMEN IN MULAGO HOSPITAL, UGANDA

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Perinatal Medicine
• Maternal Health

Background:

• Grand multiparity, defined as five or more previous births, is associated with various pregnancy risks.
• Understanding fetal outcomes in grand multiparous women compared to those with fewer births is crucial for clinical management.
• Previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the impact of grand multiparity on fetal well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare fetal outcomes between grand multiparous (para 5-9) and multiparous (para 2-4) women delivering at Mulago hospital, Uganda.
• To investigate potential differences in stillbirth rates and neonatal unit admissions.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study was conducted at Mulago hospital, Uganda.
• 156 women (grand multiparous and multiparous) were recruited upon admission to the labor ward.
• Fetal outcomes were collected and analyzed through the immediate postpartum period.

Main Results:

• Admissions to the Special Care Unit (SCU) were similar: 11 (7%) in grand multiparous (GMP) vs. 11 (7%) in multiparous (MP) women.
• Fresh stillbirths were higher in GMPs (13, 8.3%) compared to MPs (7, 4.5%), but this difference was not statistically significant.
• Mean fetal weight did not significantly differ between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• There were no statistically significant differences in key fetal outcomes between grand multiparous and multiparous women in this Ugandan cohort.
• The findings suggest that grand multiparity, in this context, does not confer a significantly higher risk of adverse fetal outcomes compared to multiparity.