Abstract:
Introduction: Obstructed labour is absolute failure of descent of the presenting part despite
good uterine contraction. It is still a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality and of
adverse outcome for women and newborns in developing countries, mainly the problem caused
by maternal pelvis or the fetus or both.
Objective: To investigate Prevalence of obstructed labour and its outcomes among women
delivered in Gimbi public hospital, west Wollega Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was carried out in Gimbi public hospital, west Wollega,
Ethiopia from February to March 2015. Single population proportion formula was used to
determine sample size. A total of 321 mothers records were enrolled in the study. The study
participants were selected by systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured
questionnaire. Data were entered using Epi Data version 3.1 and analysis was carried out using
SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied. The
independent variables with p<0.05 in multivariable logistic regression analysis were considered as
predictors of obstructed labour.
Results: According to this study result, Prevalence of obstructed labour was 58 (18.1%) and the
main causes were cephalo pelvic disproportion 36(61.3%) followed by malpresentation 16
(27.1%). The major maternal complications observed among women with obstructed labour were
PPH, ruptured uterus, and puerperal sepsis. The risk of maternal complications was 14/58
(24.1%) in women with obstructed labour compared to 6.1% (16/263) in women without
obstruction. Among women diagnosed having obstructed labour 45 (78.9) of them were live
birth and 13(21.1%) were Still birth. The perinatal mortality rate was 310 per 1000 total births
(18/58) for women who had obstructed labour and 42 per 1000 total births (10/263) among
women non obstructed group. Overall the perinatal mortality rate was 90 per 1000 total births.
The risk of obstructed labour was statistically significantly associated with age, parity and birth
weight.