Maternal and Newborn Morbidity in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, North-East, Nigeria

Background: Efforts are being made to promote mother and child survival by reducing the high rate of maternal and newborn morbidities in developing nations, particularly in sub-Sahara Africa. The study was designed to find the pattern and associated factors of maternal and newborn morbidities in Gombe, northeast Nigeria test. Materials and Methods: Patients were prospectively interviewed with the use of a structured questionnaire and medical case records were also reviewed. Data obtained was entered into SPSS version 21 for analysis. Results: A total of 250 women were studied. Most (53.6%) were aged 26–35 years. The majority (97.2%) were married. Most (40.0%) were unemployed and of the Fulani ethnicity (36.4%). Urban dwellers were in the majority (55.2%). Approx. 78% had at least a secondary level of education. Most (64.4%) were multiparous, had 2 or more living children (72%), and 76% with less than 8 ANC visits. Distribution of MOD showed C/S (52.4%), SVD (36%), and Instrumental delivery (1.6%). Maternal morbidity was recorded in 22% with PPH (47.3%), Genital injury (30.5%), and Genital sepsis (16.4%) most common. Newborn morbidity was recorded in 23.6% with neonatal asphyxia (25.4%), neonatal jaundice (25.4%), and LBW (22%) most common. Women who had less than 8 ANC visits (p = 0.05) and underwent instrumental delivery (p = 0.002) were more likely to suffer morbidity. Those who had Caesarean Section were less likely to have a maternal morbidity (p = 0.002). Whereas, neonates born to primiparous women were more likely to suffer a morbidity (p = 0.042). There was no significant relationship between number of ANC visits (p = 0.512) and MOD (p = 0.680). Conclusion: PPH, genital injuries, and genital sepsis were the commonest maternal morbidities while Neonatal asphyxia, jaundice, and LBW were commonest in the newborn. Less than eight ANC visits and instrumental delivery increased the likelihood of maternal morbidity, while delivery to primiparous mothers increased the likelihood of newborn morbidity. Campaign for adequate antenatal care clinic visits should be sustained and when indicated cesarean delivery should not be denied to women. Accouchers must be trained in the usage of instrumental deliveries to reduce morbidities associated with it.