The Trend of Twin Pregnancy Over A 5-Year Period in A University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Twin pregnancy is associated with increased perinatal mortality, preterm deliveries and maternal complications especially in developing countries. The outcome of twin deliveries at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria between January 2002 and December 2006 were reviewed. Within the 5year-period, there were 314 twin deliveries out of 13,351 total deliveries giving an incidence of 1 in 42.6 or 23.5/1000. Perinatal death was over one and a half times that in singleton(149.7 and 89.7/1000 deliveries respectively). Majority (61.8%) were booked patients and there was no relationship with parity. There was no particular trend in the incidence over the 5year period. Preterm delivery occurred in 25% of the twins and prematurity accounted for about one-quarter of all perinatal death which was the highest. The perinatal mortality ratio between the booked(67/1000) and the unbooked (308/1000) cases was 1 in 5. Antenatal booking and delivery in a specialist centre will reduce the morbidity and perinatal mortality associated with twin pregnancies.

Key words: Trend, perinatal mortality, twins.