Abstract:
Objectives of the case control study were1. To detennine the association between risk
factors and major degree placenta praevia2. To describe the main fetal and maternal clinical
outcomes in mothers with majordegree placenta praevia.In the case control component 133
singleton pregnant mothers with major degree placenta praevia at or above 34 weeks of
period of amenorrhoea at Castle Street Hospital for Women were recruited as cases and one
to one unmatched controls (without placenta praevia) were included from April 2002 to
June 2003. Data obtained through interviewing the mothers and extracting infonnation from
medical records. The data of the study support the association between placenta praevia,
previous caesarean deliveries but two third mothers with placenta praevia didn't have
caesarian section in the past, and other factors were not significantly associated with
placenta praevia. More women with. placenta praevia experienced antepartum bleeding than
postpartum bleeding. Most of the mothers were managed conservatively in order toprolong
the pregnancy. However, there were four perinatal deaths due to prematurity.Nonetheless in
majority of mothers with placenta praevia underwent emergency cesarean delivery with or
without bleeding. One third of the mothers had postpartum morbidity but no maternal
mortality.
