Risk factors of placenta previa with maternal and neonatal outcome at Dongola/Sudan

Placenta previa is a major cause of hemorrhage affecting 0.4-0.5% of all pregnancy's early detection of cases and senior input will significantly reduce maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.

The aim of the study is to determine risk factors, fetal and maternal outcome in pregnancy complicated by placenta previa.

This is descriptive cross-sectional study in women diagnosed with placenta previa at Dongola maternity hospital, Sudan from December 2018 to June 2019.

There were 3,674 deliveries and 52 cases of placenta previa during the study period with prevalence of 1.4%. The average age of the patients was 34.8 years and most of them were above 35 years (53.8%), and (63.5%) were para 3 and more. Other identified risk factors included previous cesarean section (69.1%), previous uterine evacuation (13.5%), and assisted reproductive technique (5.8%). Maternal complications were hemorrhage needing blood transfusion (40.4%), cesarean hysterectomy (21.2%), and bladder injury (3.8%), but (34.6%) were with good outcome and no maternal death. NICU admission with RDS (25%), prematurity (25%), and death (5.8%) were the fetal complications, while in (44.2%) fetal outcome was good.

The most identifiable risk factors for placenta previa were previous uterine scars, advanced maternal age, and multiparity. And it is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.