%0 Journal Article
%T Obstetrical Outcomes of Pregnancy during a Period of Socio-Political Instability in the Buea and Bamenda Regional Hospitals, Cameroon
%A Takang Ako Wiliiam
%A Epey Felicite Ngale
%A Dobgima Walter Pisoh
%A Halle-Ekane Gregory
%J Advances in Reproductive Sciences
%P 49-58
%@ 2330-0752
%D 2022
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/arsci.2022.102006
%X <strong>Background:</strong><span style=\"white-space:normal;\"><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\">&nbsp;Armed conflict increases the occurrence of adverse obstetrical outcomes especially in low and middle-income countries. However, there is paucity of data on obstetrical outcomes in the South-West and North-West Regions of Cameroon since the onset of the socio-political instability. <b>Objectives:</b> </span></span><span style=\"white-space:normal;\"><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\">Our</span></span><span style=\"white-space:normal;\"><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\">&nbsp;aim</span></span><span style=\"white-space:normal;\"><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\">&nbsp;was</span></span><span style=\"white-space:normal;\"><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\">&nbsp;to evaluate obstetrical outcomes in the Buea and Bamenda Regional Hospitals, Cameroon during the period of socio-political instability. <b>Methods:</b> A hospital-based retrospective cohort study was carried out at the aforementioned hospitals. Data was collected from case notes of pregnant women before the period of socio-political instability (from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016) and during the period of socio-political instability (from January 1, 2017 to October 31, 2019). The Chi square and Fischer¡¯s exact test were used to compare categorical variables where appropriate and modeled into multivariate analysis. A p-value &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. <b>Results:</b> The mean maternal age was 27.09 (¡À5.25) years, before and during the conflict. The mean weight of neonates (regardless of gestational age) during the conflict was significantly higher [3.28 (¡À0.65) kg] compared to that before the conflict [3.21 ¡À (0.52) kg] (p &lt; 0.001). Maternal age &lt; 20</span></span><span style=\"white-space:normal;\"><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\"> </span></span><span style=\"white-space:normal;\"><span style=\"font-family:;\" \"=\"\">yrs [OR = 1.97; CI (1.16 - 3.37), p = 0.01], and delivery during the period of socio-political instability [OR = 1.97; CI (1.16 - 3.37)], p = 0.01 and [OR = 1.89; CI (1.53 - 2.33)], p &lt; 0.01] were significant predictors of adverse&nbsp;maternal outcomes. The number of maternal age [OR = 2.22; CI (1.48 - 3.33)], and time of evaluation [OR = 1.83; CI (1.57 - 2.14)], p &lt; 0.01 respectively) were associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study identifies increased incidence of adverse maternal outcomes in mothers exposed to socio-political instability.</span></span>
%K Socio-Political
%K Instability
%K Regions
%K Obstetrics
%K Outcomes
%K Cameroon
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=117100