A 5-Year review of obstructed labour at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

ABSTRACT
Background: Obstructed labour remains a common obstetric complication with resultant
fetomaternal morbidity and mortality in low-income countries. In developing countries, fistulae
usually result from prolonged obstructed labour and follow pressure necrosis caused by impaction of
the presenting part during difficult labour. In the infant, neglected obstructed labour may cause
asphyxia, leading to stillbirth, brain damage, or neonatal death. The study aims to determine the
prevalence, sociodemographic characteristics, causes, complications, and the fetomaternal outcome
of pregnancies complicated by obstructed labour.
Methods: It was a retrospective study carried out on managed cases of obstructed labour in Federal
Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, between 1st January 2018 and 31st December 2022.
Results: A total of 46 cases were recorded out of 3,718 deliveries during the study period, giving an
institutional prevalence rate of 1.2%. The main causes were cephalopelvic disproportion (76.1%)
followed by malpresentation (23.9%). Obstructed labour was more common among women aged
30–34 years (39.1%). Most of the women were married (86.9%) with secondary education (47.8%).
Most of the women were nulliparous (47.8%), unbooked (95.7%), and referred by traditional birth
attendants (52.2%). The common foetal complications were intrauterine foetal death (23.8%) and
foetal distress (11.9%), while the common maternal complications were wound infection (7.5%),
uterine rupture (4.5%), and puerperal sepsis (4.5%).

Conclusion: The prevalence of obstructed labour in this study is low. The major causes were
cephalopelvic disproportion and abnormal lie/presentation.
Keywords: Obstructed labour, Perinatal morbidity, Perinatal mortality, Maternal
morbidity, Maternal mortality.