We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
from SECTION 2 - CLINICAL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS – MATERNAL
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2014
Introduction
Obstructed labour is an important cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and in the developing world it always features among the top five causes of maternal deaths. Globally, obstructed labour was responsible for 8% of maternal deaths in 2000. The maternal and neonatal morbidity is also significant. In 1990, obstructed labour was ranked 41st in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Burden of Disease, which represented 0.5% of the burden of all conditions and 22% of all maternal conditions. Using the disability-adjusted life year indicator, it was estimated to be the condition that results in the most morbidity out of all maternal complications. However, it is one of the complications with the most potential for prevention. Unlike haemorrhage or eclampsia, it takes days rather than hours for maternal mortality or morbidity to occur in association with obstructed labour. For achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5, it is important that this eminently preventable complication be addressed. The contribution of a functioning health system in reducing the risk from obstructed labour is shown by the fact that both the immediate and long-term sequelae of this complication are virtually non-existent in developed countries.
Definition
Obstructed labour is defined as the failure of progress in labour due to mechanical factors, in the presence of good contractions of the uterus. There is no difficulty in detecting severe cases of obstructed labour but minor degrees may escape detection.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
