Journal of Women's Health Care
Open Access

Abstract

Age, Anthropometric Measurements and Mode of Delivery among Primigravidae Women at Addis Ababa Governmental Hospitals, Ethiopia

Damitew Solomon*, Anteneh Dirar and Fikreselassie Getachew

Background: In developing countries, a significant number of maternal deaths are attributable to the complications of obstructed labor. Identifying women at risk for Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD) prepares physicians for on time treatment and enables them to minimize maternal-fetal trauma that accompanies this midwifery emergency. The study aims to identify diagnostic accuracy of maternal age and anthropometric measurements to predict CPD among Primigravidae women visiting Addis Ababa Governmental Hospital.
Methods: Hospital based prospective cohort study was carried out at Governmental Hospitals in Addis Ababa. The sample size was 384 mothers. Five hospitals were selected from Addis Ababa governmental hospitals by using simple random sampling (lottery method). Data was entered into EPI data version 3.3 and analyzed using SPSS version 23 statistical package.
Results: The current study shows as the most predictive variable is maternal height with Positive Predictive Value percentage of 64.9, sensitivity of 85.4% and specificity of 96.4% followed by Michaelis rhomboid transverse diameter with Positive Predictive Value of 14.8%, sensitivity of 51.3%, and specificity of 89.4%.
Conclusions: Age and maternal anthropometric measurements can predict CPD to some extent. Combining some of maternal anthropometric measurements with each other enhances the predictive value to a relatively modest degree. In this study when height is combined with other anthropometric measurements it doesn’t show increment in predictive value.