Journal of Education and Health Promotion

A longitudinal study on high risk pregnancy and its outcome among antenatal women attending rural primary health centre in Puducherry, South India

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Marie Gilbert Majella
. Gokul Sarveswaran
. Yuvaraj Krishnamoorthy
. K. Sivaranjini
. Kalaiselvy Arikrishnan
. S. Ganesh Kumar
Abstract
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Almost 15% of all pregnant women can develop potentially life‑threatening
complications. As a result, identification of high‑risk pregnancy at earliest stage will be useful in
directing appropriate intervention. Hence, the current study was done to determine the prevalence
and outcome of high‑risk pregnancy among antenatal women in rural Puducherry.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A record‑based longitudinal study was done during March 2018
among 569 antenatal women who have attended rural health center of tertiary care institute. High‑risk
pregnancy was classified based on the guidelines from Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan
and outcome assessment based on the obstetric and neonatal outcomes.
RESULTS: Among 569 antenatal case record reviewed, 315 (55.3%) were in the age group of
20–25 years and majority (463, 81.4%) belonged to below poverty line families; 410 (74.3%) registered
their current pregnancy within the first trimester. The prevalence of high‑risk pregnancy among study
participants was 18.3% (95% confidence interval: 15.3%–21.7%). Majority (81.9%) had term delivery.
Regarding obstetric and neonatal outcomes, majority had spontaneous vaginal delivery (73.9%);
about 10.4% gave birth to low‑birth weight baby, and only 1.7% had stillbirth. Parity, socioeconomic
status, and unfavorable outcomes such as low‑birth weight, preterm, and postterm delivery were
associated with high‑risk pregnancy.
CONCLUSION: The current study found that almost one‑fifth of the pregnant women in rural area have
high‑risk pregnancy. Unfavorable obstetric and neonatal outcomes were common among high‑risk
cases. Hence, early detection of high‑risk pregnancy needs to be done at primary health‑care level
to improve the maternal, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes.

Keywords

High‑risk pregnancy
low birth weight
maternal–child health services
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 9, Issue 1
January 2019
Pages 1-6

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