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Obstetrical performance in elderly Zambian parturients
Medical Journal of Zambia
|February 1, 1981
Summary
Elderly mothers (40+) had a 1.0% incidence of delivery. Despite high rates of complications and operative deliveries, no maternal deaths occurred, though perinatal outcomes were poor.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Advanced maternal age (40 years and above) is associated with increased obstetric risks.
- Understanding the delivery outcomes for elderly parturients is crucial for improving maternal and infant care.
- Limited data exists on the obstetric performance of elderly mothers in low-resource settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the obstetrical performance of elderly parturients (aged 40 and above).
- To determine the incidence of advanced maternal age deliveries and associated complications.
- To evaluate fetal outcomes in this high-risk maternal group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of delivery data from University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka.
- Inclusion criteria: mothers aged 40 and above delivering between 1979-1980.
- Data collected on maternal characteristics, pregnancy complications, delivery mode, and fetal outcomes.
Main Results:
- Incidence of deliveries by mothers aged 40+ was 1.0% (391/39,109).
- 87.2% were grand multipara; 22% required operative delivery (13% Cesarean, 9% operative vaginal).
- High rates of prematurity (71/1,000) and perinatal death (138/1,000) observed; no maternal deaths recorded.
Conclusions:
- Elderly parturients in this setting present with high parity and require significant operative intervention.
- While maternal mortality was zero, adverse perinatal outcomes necessitate targeted interventions.
- Further research on preventable factors related to maternal age and parity is warranted.