The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Aim and Objectives: The aim of the present study is to determine a baseline data and estimates of maternal and neonatal health indicators, which can be used in establishing a pilot surveillance system in Mosul City. Study Design: Cohort study design. Participants: Nine hundred and forty three women and their live births new borns (n = 948). Study Setting: Al–Khansaa and Al–Batool maternity hospitals and related community. Methods: Cases were those pregnant women in the last trimester, who attended the mentioned maternity hospitals for delivery. Selection of the cases was on consecutive sampling basis. All information needed was included in a special questionnaire form prepared for this purpose. Cases were interviewed and examined at the time of admission and at the 7th and 42nd days after delivery (together with their newborns). Results: It has been found that 94.0% of the studied women received antenatal care. Maternal morbidity occurred in 99.4% in one or more of periods: the last four weeks of gestation, at the time of labour and puerperium. There was only one maternal death making a maternal mortality ratio of 106/100,000 live births. Almost all pregnancies ended with live births. Four fifth (86.6%) were within normal range of birth weight, and 77.2% showed Apgar score >7 at first five minutes of life. The estimated total neonatal morbidity was 61.6%, while neonatal mortality approached 17/1000 live births. Conclusion: The present study tried to indicate a set of indicators that can be used in a surveillance system to monitor the progress of maternal and neonatal health.