Childbirth in Germany and Nigeria compared.

BACKGROUND

A look at childbirth processes in both countries may lead to understanding of the differences between them and may perhaps open up new arrears of research in human reproduction. The objective of this paper is to compare some childbirth parameters in Nigerians and Germans and to adduce possible reasons for the differences.

METHOD: This is prospective study using data collected from 1055 consecutive deliveries that took place in Nigeria which was analyzed and compared with that of 56690 deliveries that took place in the German state of Hesse.

RESULTS

Preterm labor was more common among Nigerians (12.1%) than in Germans (6.7%). There is no significant difference in the day and time of birth in the two countries (p >0.05). Precipitate labor occurred in 12.5% of Germans, as against none in Nigerians. Within 30 minutes, more than 90% of women in both countries complete the second stage of labor. Doctors attend to more deliveries in Germany (99.3%), as against 63.1% in Nigeria. Episiotomy was performed in 71% of Germans as against 49% Nigerians. Primary cesarean section rate in Germany was 8.5% and in Nigeria 5.6%. Retained placenta was more common in Germans (2.5%) than in Nigerians (1%). Sepsis was more common in Nigerians (1.3%) than in Germans (0.0%). Blood loss greater than 1000ml was more common in Nigerians (2.9%) than in Germans (0.6%). Within 24 hours of delivery 74.8% of Nigerians leave hospital as against 4.0% of Germans.

CONCLUSION

It would appear that biological and socio-economic factors play differential roles in the final process of childbirth in different populations while meteorological cum cosmic factors appear to exact the same influence in the two populations.