Obstetric and neonatal outcomes in women who live in an urban resettlement area of Delhi, India: a cohort study.

AIM: To study the pregnancy outcome, namely mode and place of delivery, attendant at birth and perinatal mortality in an urban resettlement area of Delhi, India, and to determine factors that affect the outcome.

METHODS

All the pregnant women (n = 909) in the area were enrolled and followed until 7 days after delivery. We calculated the crude and adjusted odds ratios for predictors of pregnancy related obstetric and neonatal outcomes, using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 884 (97.3%) women could be followed up. Approximately two-thirds of deliveries took place at home. Primigravida, more educated mothers and mothers with non-cephalic presentation or complications were more likely to deliver in a health facility (P < 0.05). Most deliveries (97%) were vaginal, 2.5% were cesarean and 0.5% forceps deliveries. Primigravida mothers, mothers with short stature, mothers with non-cephalic presentation or complications had cesarean and forceps delivery more often (P < 0.05). A perinatal mortality rate of 74.5 per 1000 live births was observed. Presentation of the fetus and complications in the mother remained important factors.

CONCLUSION

The majority of deliveries in the under-privileged sections in urban Delhi take place at home and the perinatal mortality remains high.