The Prevalence of Childbirth Adverse Events (AEs) and Related Factors among Yemeni Mothers and Newborns, Al-Sadaka Teaching Hospital, Aden, Yemen: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study

Background: The main objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of adverse events (AEs) and its related factors among mother and newborns during labor in Al-Sadaka Teaching Hospital, Aden City.

Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted at Al-Sadaka Teaching Hospital, Aden City among 2526 pregnant women who were consented and eligible to be included in the study. Quantitative date were collected over the study time (180 days on 3-time shifts) by interviewer administered questionnaire and a direct observation of the obstetric interventions during childbirth. Descriptive statistics were performed using the SPSS program and a p-value of <0.05 was considered significant at 95% Confidence Interval (CI).

Results: A total of 322 adverse event episodes were identified among both mothers and newborns with a prevalence of 12.7% (322/2526) in the study setting. Almost, the majority of the reported AEs were found among mothers (83.2%). Factors such as prolonged second stage labor was found strongly associated with nulliparous mothers during childbirth (P=001), while asphyxia and meconium aspiration as an AEs among newborns were found associated with the performance of episiotomy intervention during childbirth and fundal pressure (P=0.027, P=0.019, respectively).

Conclusions: Prevalence of AEs among mothers and newborns were high in comparison to the international standard. Further nationwide study was recommended to investigate the different factors associated with AEs in health care services in Yemen and to avoid harmful practices as a key mechanism for improving mother safety.