The prevalence of HDP was relatively low in our cohort. However, to prevent harmful impacts on both the mother and fetus, screening for this disorder is recommended early in pregnancy.
Objective To assess the use of intrapartum de®bulation for women who have had female genital mutilation.Design A retrospective case analysis. Setting King Abdulaziz University Hospital, a teaching hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Sample Two hundred and thirty-three Sudanese and 92 Somali women who were delivered at the hospital between January 1996 and December 1999.Methods The outcome of labour of women with female genital mutilation who needed intrapartum de®bulation were compared with the outcome of labour of women without female genital mutilation who did not need intrapartum de®bulation.Results One hundred and ®fty-eight (48.6%) women had in®bulation and needed intrapartum de®bulation to deliver vaginally, 116 women (35.7%) did not have in®bulation and gave birth vaginally without de®bulation, and 51 (15.7%) women were delivered by caesarean section. There were no statistically signi®cant differences, between women who underwent intrapartum de®bulation and those who did not, in the duration of labour, rates of episiotomy and vaginal laceration, APGAR scores, blood loss and maternal stay in hospital. The surgical technique of intrapartum de®bulation was easy and no intraoperative complications occurred. Conclusions Intrapartum de®bulation is simple and safe, but sensitivity to the cultural issues involved is essential. In the longer term, continuing efforts should be directed towards abandoning female genital mutilation altogether.
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