Obstructed labour: a public health problem in Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria

This study reviewed retrospectively the cases of obstructed labour as seen at the specialist Gombe Hospital (SHG), Gombe State, over a period of 5 years. The incidence of obstructed labour was 4.0%. There was a progressive decline in the time trend over the study period. About 80.3% of the patients were unbooked emergencies and 99.5% of them had been in labour elsewhere before presenting at the hospital. The leading cause of obstructed labour was cephalopelvic disproportion (83.0%). Caesarean section (72.2%) was the most common method of delivery. Puerperal sepsis was the most frequent morbidity. However, the longest duration of hospital stay was as a result of a bedsore. The maternal mortality for cases of obstructed labour was 7605/100,000 and the perinatal mortality was 628/1000 births. The study aims to reinstate public interest in this health problem and offers suggestions on how to curb this human tragedy.