Analysis of Medical and Social Causes of Obstructed Labour

Background: Obstructed labour is one of the major causes of maternal mortality (8%) in Bangladesh. It is also responsible for high rate of maternal and fetal morbidity. If we can identify the medical and social causes of obstructed labour in our country it may be helpful to find out the way to prevent this disease. Objectives: This study was to find out the medical and social causes of obstructed labour in our country. It also finds out the cause of delay in seeking care.Material & Methods:This study is a prospective observational study has been done in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka from August 2004 to December 2005. One hundred patients who were admitted with obstructed labour during study period were included in this study.Results:In this study prevalence of obstructed labour was 3.59%. Among the patients who were admitted with obstructed labour 52% were within 20 to 25 years of age, 55% were primigravida, only 30% were on regular antenatal checkup. The medical causes of obstructed labour were cephalopelvic disproportion in 30%, malposition and malpresntation in 69% and cervical fibroid in 1 %. In this study 72% of study population had monthly income below 3,000 BTD, 27% had 3,001 – 5,000 BDT and only 1 % had above 5,000 BDT. Among them 8% patient had crossed the primary level of education and 35% were illiterate. The patients who were admitted with obstructed labour could not utilize the health facility in time and they had to go for trial of home delivery first. In 25% cases their husband and family members did not agree to bring them to hospital, 31.3% was because of ignorance, 14% was due to economic constraints, 13.3% wanted to avoid operative delivery, 9.4 % patient herself did not agree to come to hospital because it would disrupt house hold work and the rest 7% could not come due to long distance between home and health center and tertiary hospital. Modes of delivery were LSCS in 85%, craniotomy in 9% and evisceration in 4%. Maternal outcome was WF in 7% and puerperial sepsis in 18%. Perinatal death was 45%, MMR was 3% due to obstructed labour.Conclusions:SThe causes of obstructed labour are not only due to medical causes but also have social causes. The social causes depend on the socio-economic status and the level of education.