Perinatal Outcomes of Multiple-Gestation Pregnancies in Kenya, Zambia, Pakistan, India, Guatemala, and Argentina: A Global Network Study

Abstract

Aim To determine the rates of multiple gestation, stillbirth, and perinatal and neonatal mortality and to determine health care system characteristics related to perinatal mortality of these pregnancies in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods Pregnant women residing within defined geographic boundaries located in six countries were enrolled and followed to 42 days postpartum.

Results Multiple gestations were 0.9% of births. Multiple gestations were more likely to deliver in a health care facility compared with singletons (70 and 66%, respectively, p < 0.001), to be attended by skilled health personnel (71 and 67%, p < 0.001), and to be delivered by cesarean (18 versus 9%, p < 0.001). Multiple-gestation fetuses had a relative risk (RR) for stillbirth of 2.65 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.06, 3.41) and for perinatal mortality rate (PMR) a RR of 3.98 (95% CI 3.40, 4.65) relative to singletons (both p < 0.0001). Neither delivery in a health facility nor the cesarean delivery rate was associated with decreased PMR. Among multiple-gestation deliveries, physician-attended delivery relative to delivery by other health providers was associated with a decreased risk of perinatal mortality.

Conclusions Multiple gestations contribute disproportionately to PMR in low-resource countries. Neither delivery in a health facility nor the cesarean delivery rate is associated with improved PMR.

Keywords

multiples gestation - twins - developing countries - stillbirth - perinatal mortality rate

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