Obstetrical Outcomes of Pregnancy during a Period of Socio-Political Instability in the Buea and Bamenda Regional Hospitals, Cameroon

Background:？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. Objectives: Our？aim？was？to evaluate obstetrical outcomes in the Buea and Bamenda Regional Hospitals, Cameroon during the period of socio-political instability. Methods: 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 < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean maternal age was 27.09 (±5.25) years, before and during the conflict. The mean weight of neonates (regardless of gestational age) during the conflict was significantly higher [3.28 (±0.65) kg] compared to that before the conflict [3.21 ± (0.52) kg] (p < 0.001). Maternal age < 20 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 < 0.01] were significant predictors of adverse？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 < 0.01 respectively) were associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Conclusion: This study identifies increased incidence of adverse maternal outcomes in mothers exposed to socio-political instability.