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Postnatal maternal morbidity: extent, causes, prevention and treatment
C M Glazener1, M Abdalla, P Stroud
1University of Aberdeen Health Services Research Unit, Foresterhill, UK.
Objective:
To describe the prevalence and causes of postnatal maternal morbidity.
Design:
Questionnaire survey of postnatal patients. Further data extracted from SMR1 returns, case records and the Aberdeen Maternity and Neonatal Databank.
Setting:
Postnatal care in a teaching maternity hospital, midwife delivery hospital, general practitioner maternity units and in the community.
Subjects:
Twenty percent random sample of deliveries (1249 women) surveyed one week, eight weeks and 12 to 18 months after delivery.
Main Outcome Measures:
Incidence of self reported maternal morbidity, treatment received, readmission rates and causes for readmission.
Results:
Of mothers in the sample 85% (99% CI 82-88%) reported at least one health problem in hospital, rising to 87% (84-90%) of those at home; 76% (71-81%) reported at least one health problem after eight weeks post-delivery.
Conclusions:
Maternal morbidity is extensive and under-recognised after delivery. Measures to reduce and alleviate it must be sought.