A retrospective case-control study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for pre-eclampsia – including the protective effect of placenta previa – at Medani Maternity Hospital, Sudan. Medical files of the patients during the period 2003–2010 were reviewed for age, parity, education level, prenatal care, placenta previa, and hemoglobin level. Women with pre-eclampsia were the cases, and women with normal pregnancy were the controls. There were 54,339 singleton deliveries and 1765 women with pre-eclampsia in the hospital, giving the incidence of pre-eclampsia of 3.2%. The risk factors for pre-eclampsia were; women with age >35 years (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1–1.8), primiparity (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 2.7–4.0), para >5 (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 2.4–4.0), and anemia (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 2.8–3.9). The risk of pre-eclampsia was inversely increased with education level and prenatal care attendance. The prevalence of placenta previa was 0 (0%) and 55 (3.3%), P < 0.001 in pre-eclamptic and control women, respectively. Placenta previa was a significant protective factor of pre-eclampsia (OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1–0.7). Although, the socio-demographic risk factors for pre-eclampsia observed among women at Medani hospital were similar to those found in other settings; placenta previa was associated with decreased incidence of pre-eclampsia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and causes of maternal deaths and stillbirths at the Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wad Medani, Sudan, from 1 January 2003 through 31 December 2007. All maternal deaths and stillbirths during this period were reviewed and classified retrospectively. There were 146 maternal deaths and 33034 live births, giving a maternal mortality ratio of 442/100,000 live births. The age range was 18-42 years with a mean (standard deviation) of 30.57 (5.26) years. The most common cause of death was septicaemia following obstructed labour or abortion-related sepsis, followed by haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia/ecalampsia, viral hepatitis and malaria. The stillbirth rate was 29/1000 births; the majority of which (8/1000) were macerated stillbirths.

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Background: Neonatal outcome is an important indicator of obstetrics and health care. Few or no published data are available concerning neonatal morbidity and mortality in Sudan. Objectives: To study morbidity and mortality pattern amongst inborn neonates admitted into nursery unit in Wad Medani Hospital, Sudan during the period Jan-June, 2009. Results: A total of 1211 (29.5%) out of 4098 in-born neonates were admitted during study period. The major indications for neonatal admission were; infections 300 (24.8%), low birth weight (LBW) 307(25.4%) and asphyxia 130(10.7). There were 133(11%) neonatal deaths; preterm delivery, LBW and birth asphyxia were the major causes of death among these neonates. Conclusion: neonatal infection, preterm birth and LBW were the common causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need for more research throughout the country concerning these common causes of morbidity and mortality.

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