Obstetrical risk factors and pregnancy outcome in rural Mozambique. A prospective study

Abstract

A study of 373 pregnant women in two rural areas of Mozambique indicates that 38% of pregnant women are classified as having high risk factors according to the antenatal card. A postpartum follow-up of 200 women showed that data were available for 85% of the enrolled women. The 10 women (7%) that had suffered perinatal deaths did not have an overrepresentation of high risk factors according to the card. Neither of the 2 women suffering maternal deaths had had any risk criteria according to the card. More efficient risk criteria will presumably be the outcome of further research for an improved antenatal card.