Rate of Obstetrical Complications and Medical Interventions in Low-Risk Patients: A Cohort Study in Dakar, Senegal

Abstract

Background: "Low-risk" pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy that develops physiologically in a healthy woman and remains healthy. In practice, "low-risk" pregnancies are defined by excluding high-risk pregnancies. Objectives: Evaluate the rate of complications and medical interventions in "low-risk" pregnant women. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study assessing the risk of obstetrical complications and medical interventions in low-risk patients from January 2010 to December 2020 at Philippe Maguilen Senghor Health Center in Dakar, Senegal. Results: There were 10,979 low-risk patients out of a total of 52,768, accounting for 20.8%. As medical interventions, episiotomy was performed in 27.5% and cesarean section in 8.7%. Acute fetal distress was observed in 4.1%. A low Apgar score at the fifth minute was observed in 1.89% (whereas it was 3.49% in high risk patients). Newborn-resuscitation was performed in 10.7%. Neonatal mortality was 5‰. Conclusion: Low-risk pregnancies are not without "risk", and thus care-givers should prepare for risks even at dealing with low risk patients.