Prevalence of meconium stained amniotic fluid at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe- Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) during labour has been associated with adverse perinatal outcome with increased obstetric interventions. Objectives: This study sought to determine the prevalence of MSAF in 'low risk' pregnancies in labour. Materials and Methods: It is a prospective observational study carried out on 'low-risk' pregnant women who presented in labour at the labour ward of Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe from April 10 to July 28, 2016. The patients were recruited consecutively and observed for meconium staining of the liquor. Those with greenish or brownish discolouration of the liquor or those with clumps of meconium in background clear liquor were taken as cases. The data and socio-economic details were captured in SPPS version 20 and the results were analysed. Results: A total of 787 deliveries took place during the study period. Two hundred and seventy-five women who presented in normal labour were recruited out of which 72 meconium had stained liquor. This gave a prevalence of 26.2%. Sixty-three per cent of the women were between the ages 21 and 30 years; 80.7% booked at our centre; 88.4% were para 4 and below and 67% presented with cervical dilatation of between 4-6 cm. Conclusion: The incidence of MSAF in “low-risk” pregnancies is high. Health Workers should be on alert in detecting and instituting appropriate measures so as to minimize the possible adverse effects.