Ruptured uterus: fetomaternal outcome among unbooked mothers and antenatal care defaulters at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

Unbooked emergencies are major reasons for the high maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria. Rupture of the gravid uterus in women without antenatal care usually present late to the hospital as unbooked emergencies with high perinatal deaths and very poor maternal outcome. To determine the factors implicated in the poor feto-maternal outcome with ruptured uterus amongst the unbooked mothers at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). A retrospective analysis of case records of 82 consecutive patients without antenatal care who had ruptured uterus between January 2008 and December 2012. There were 2133 deliveries among unbooked mothers at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital over this 5-year period. The incidence of ruptured uterus for the period under review was 3.8%. The mean age was 28.1 years and the modal parity was 2. Abdominal massage and prolonged obstructed labor were the commonest predisposing factors, occurring in 43.9% and 34.1% of these women respectively. There were 80 perinatal deaths contributing to 12.2% of the perinatal mortality rate. There were 6 maternal deaths from ruptured uterus which was 10.9% of the maternal mortality ratio of 2578.5 per 100,000 live birth during the study period. Perinatal and maternal mortality rates from ruptured uterus were high. The major causes of uterine rupture are abdominal massage and prolonged obstructed labor, which are both preventable. Public enlightenment and condemnation of practices that promote these factors is advocated.Keywords: ruptured uterus, feto-maternal outcome, unbooked, Port Harcour