A community survey of newborn care practices in rural India

Background: There are a high proportion of home deliveries in rural India. The present study was carried out to assess newborn care practices among home births and reasons for delivering at home.Methods: A community based cross sectional survey of recently delivered mothers (<6 months) with at least one living child was carried out in 28 districts of 14 states.Results: A total of 4274 women delivered at home and 45.9% deliveries were conducted by untrained personnel (dais 24.0%, relatives/friends/neighbors 21.9%), trained dais 48.2% and ANMs/LHVs/doctors 5.9%. New blade was used for cutting the cord by trained dai (80.7%), untrained dais (75.5%) whereas ANMs/LHVs/doctors used either new blade (64.7%) or scissors (14.7%). Use of boiled cord tie was reported among 98.8% deliveries conducted by ANMs/LHVs/doctors, 96.6% trained dais and 96.3% untrained dais. 32.5% ANMs/LHVs/doctors, 28.3% trained dais and 26.2% untrained dais left the cord dry without any application. Main reasons for delivering at home were ‘client/social/family' related (85.9%) and ‘facility/provider’ related (21.7%). Nearly 93.3% of the new borns were given their first bath within 24 hours of birth including 77.3% within 3 hours of birth. 38.2% mothers initiating breast feeding within 24 hours of birth and within one hour 6.0% mothers only.Conclusions: There is a need for improving community awareness to promote institutional deliveries and improve health system to satisfy demands of birthing women. When home birth is inevitable, families should be encouraged to engage skilled birth attendant to provide better newborn care

Is emergency cesarean section more risky than elective cesarean section in women with previous cesarean section?

Background: Cesarean section is one of the most performed surgical procedures all over the world, but unfortunately cesarean sections are associated with a great deal of maternal morbidity and mortality. In the past the rate of cesarean section has increased for many avoidable and unavoidable indications both in developed and developing countries. The objective of this study was to compare maternal morbidity and mortality in elective repeat cesarean section (El-RCS) and emergency repeat cesarean section Em-RCS.Methods: Prospective data was recorded on management practices, associated complications and morbidity and mortality on 15664 consecutive cases of previous cesarean section reporting at 30 medical colleges/teaching hospitals for delivery.Results: Of the 15664 women with a previous cesarean section, 5399 (34.5%) women underwent elective repeat cesarean section, 7752 (49.5%) women who underwent emergency repeat cesarean section and 2513 (16.0%) had successful trial of labor (S-TOL). There was    failed trial of labor (F-TOL) in 1522 cases and requiring an emergency cesarean section for delivery of baby. Therefore, total no. of 7752 women had an emergency cesarean section. The overall maternal morbidity was 22.5%, 20.7% in Em-RCS and El-RCS respectively. Blood loss was more than 1000ml in 7.2% of Em-RCS where as in El-RCS it was 8.8%, blood transfusion was 7.5% in Em-RCS where as it was 6.5% in El-RCS, dehiscence of scar in Em-RCS was 4.7% as compared to 2.2% in El-RCS, uterine rupture was 1.2% in Em-RCS as compared to 0.7 % in El-RCS found statistically significant. Post-operative complication was 5.9% cases in Em-RCS where as in El-RCS was 5.8% (p=0.79 non-significant). Maternal mortality was reported in 12 (0.2%) cases of Em-RCS as compared to 5 (0.1%) cases in El-RCS (p=0.37) which was not statistically significant.  Conclusions: Maternal morbidity was found more in emergency repeat cesarean section than in elective repeat cesarean section. Complications and referral of women who are likely to undergo cesarean section should be diagnosed at an early stage so that the maternal   morbidity and mortality can be prevented.

Trail of labor versus elective repeat cesarean section: a comparison of morbidity and mortality at tertiary care teaching hospitals in India

Background: As cesarean birth rates continue to rise, more women are faced with the choice of planning a vaginal delivery or a repeat cesarean section after a previous cesarean section. The objective of this prospective study was to study the morbidities and mortality of women attempting a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) versus elective repeat cesarean section (El-RCS).Methods: Prospective data was recorded on management practices, associated complications and morbidity &amp; mortality for a period of 8 months on 15664 consecutive cases of previous cesarean section reporting at 30 medical colleges/ teaching hospitals for delivery.Results: A trial of labor was planned in 25.8% (4035) women and 34.5% (5399) women underwent elective repeat cesarean section and rest had emergency repeat cesarean section. Overall maternal morbidity due to any cause was 20.7% among El-RCS as compared to 14.2% in TOLAC which was statistically significant (OR: 1.57, CI: 1.41-1.76, P=0.00). Blood loss of more than 1000ml was around 8.0% among TOLAC where as in El-RCS it was 8.8% (OR: 0.89, CI: 0.77-1.94, p=0.14 not statistically significant). Blood transfusion was given in 3.7% in TOLAC where as in El-RCS it was given in 6.5% (OR: 0.56, CI: 0.45-0.68, p=0.00 highly significant).  Complication like dehiscence of scar was similar in both groups. Post-operative complication were seen in 2.8% cases in TOLAC where as in El-RCS it was 5.8% (OR: 0.47, CI: 0.38-0.59, p=0.00 highly significant). Uterine rupture was 0.3% in TOLAC where as in El-RCS it was 0.7% (OR: 0.43, CI: 0.21-0.87, p=0.009 statistically significant). Maternal mortality was reported in 0.2% cases of TOLAC as compared to 0.1% cases in El-RCS (p=0.17) which was not statistically significant.Conclusions: Maternal morbidity was found to be more in elective repeat cesarean section than trial of labor after cesarean section

Vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) versus emergency repeat cesarean section at teaching hospitals in India: an ICMR task force study

Background: Objective of current study was to study the outcome of trial of vaginal birth after Previous Cesarean Section (PCS) and indications for emergency repeat cesarean section at teaching hospitals in India.Methods: Prospective data was recorded on management practices, associated complications and mortality for a period of 8 months in 2005-2006 at 30 medical colleges/teaching hospitals for delivery.Results: A total of 155863 deliveries occurred during the study duration, there were 28.1% (n=43824) cesarean section and (10.1%) (n=15664) were the number of previous cesarean section.  In 84% (n=13151) had repeat cesarean delivery and 2513 (16%) delivered vaginally. A trial of labor was planned in 4035 (25.8%) women. The success rate of VBAC was 62.3% with 2513 women had successful vaginal delivery and 1522 (37.7%) delivered by emergency repeat cesarean section. Major indication of emergency cesarean section was CPD (52.9%), foetal distress (25.8%), severe PIH/eclampsia (5.0%), previous 2 CS (0.7%), APH (1.4%) and others (2.7%).  In majority, surgical technique was conventional and in 3.7% the Misgav-Ladach technique was used. Scar dehiscence and surgical complications were observed in 5.4% and 4.0% of cases respectively. Blood transfusion was given in 7.0% and post-operative complications were seen in 6.8%. Perinatal and maternal mortality was 18.0/1000 and 257/100000 deliveries respectively.Conclusions: Safety in childbirth for women with prior cesarean is a major public health concern. Repeat caesarean section and planned vaginal birth after cesarean section are both associated with benefits and harms and correct management represents one of the most significant and challenging issues in obstetric practice.

Weekly iron folic acid supplementation plays differential role in maintaining iron markers level in non-anaemic and anaemic primigravida: A randomized controlled study

AbstractAnaemia during pregnancy is most commonly observed and highly prevalent in South-East Asia. Various effective programmes have been laid down for its management, mainly daily supplementation of iron folic acid (IFA) tablets. Following the same, standard obstetrical practice has included the IFA supplementation without requiring the determination of iron deficiency. In this study, a total of 120 primigravida (N=60; non-anaemic (Hb>11g/dl) and N=60 anaemic (Hb=8–11g/dl)) were selected among those attending the Antenatal Clinic in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India. They were supplemented with daily and weekly IFA tablets till 6weeks postpartum. Corresponding changes in haemoglobin level on advance of pregnancy, side effects and compliance associated with daily and weekly IFA supplementation and its associations with iron status markers were studied. The inflammatory markers were also estimated. The statistical significance level (p<0.05) between the groups were assessed by applying unpaired t-test using SPSS (version 16.0). The obtained results publicized the salutary role of daily IFA supplementation in improving the haemoglobin level and iron status markers in anaemic pregnant women though the levels could not reach up to the non-anaemic haemoglobin levels. However, weekly IFA supplementation seems to be a better approach in non-anaemic pregnant women where almost comparable results were obtained in terms of haematological parameters, gestation length and birth weight.ConclusionWeekly IFA supplementation found to be as effective as daily supplementation in iron sufficient non-anaemic pregnant women whereas anaemic pregnant women should be prescribed daily IFA supplementation irrespective of iron replete/deplete state

Initial Commitment to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Circumcision for HIV Prevention amongst Indian Truck Drivers

Studies of HIV prevention interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) and circumcision in India are limited. The present study sought to investigate Indian truck-drivers initial commitment to PREP and circumcision utilizing the AIDS Risk Reduction Model. Ninety truck-drivers completed an in-depth qualitative interview and provided a blood sample for HIV and HSV-2 testing. Truck-drivers exhibited low levels of initial commitment towards PREP and even lower for circumcision. However, potential leverage points for increasing commitment were realized in fear of infecting family rather than self, self-perceptions of risk, and for PREP focusing on cultural beliefs towards medication and physicians. Cost was a major barrier to both HIV prevention interventions. Despite these barriers, our findings suggest that the ARRM may be useful in identifying several leverage points that may be used by peers, health care providers and public health field workers to enhance initial commitment to novel HIV prevention interventions in India

A 'snip' in time: what is the best age to circumcise?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Circumcision is a common procedure, but regional and societal attitudes differ on whether there is a need for a male to be circumcised and, if so, at what age. This is an important issue for many parents, but also pediatricians, other doctors, policy makers, public health authorities, medical bodies, and males themselves.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>We show here that infancy is an optimal time for clinical circumcision because an infant's low mobility facilitates the use of local anesthesia, sutures are not required, healing is quick, cosmetic outcome is usually excellent, costs are minimal, and complications are uncommon. The benefits of infant circumcision include prevention of urinary tract infections (a cause of renal scarring), reduction in risk of inflammatory foreskin conditions such as balanoposthitis, foreskin injuries, phimosis and paraphimosis. When the boy later becomes sexually active he has substantial protection against risk of HIV and other viral sexually transmitted infections such as genital herpes and oncogenic human papillomavirus, as well as penile cancer. The risk of cervical cancer in his female partner(s) is also reduced. Circumcision in adolescence or adulthood may evoke a fear of pain, penile damage or reduced sexual pleasure, even though unfounded. Time off work or school will be needed, cost is much greater, as are risks of complications, healing is slower, and stitches or tissue glue must be used.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>Infant circumcision is safe, simple, convenient and cost-effective. The available evidence strongly supports infancy as the optimal time for circumcision.</p