BACKGROUND: Multiparity, risk factor of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality, is a worldwide public health problem. In Tunisia, in spite of the activities of the national program of maternal and infantile health implanted since 1966, the multiparity is yet observed in some regions of our country. Our objective is to draw up the epidemiological profile of the multipara woman (parity<6) and the grand multipara (parity> or =6) in the sanitary district of Monastir and to study the chronological tendencies of the factors associated during a decade (from 1994 to 2003). METHODS: In all, 16649 multipara were studied, representing 24% of the total women admitted for childbirth in the public motherhoods of the district. The global means age was 33,3 +/- 4,5 years with a statistical significance between multipara and grand multipara (32,7 and 35,6 respectively). The prenatal follow up was absent or inadequate for 50,2% of multipara and 62,8% of the grand multipara (p <0,001). RESULTS: In the decade, the main chronological tendencies are similar in the two multipara groups. Their frequency decreased from 28,5 to 19% (p<0,001), yet the age and the adequate follow up increased from 32,6 to 34 years and from 37,4 to 57,9% respectively (p<0,001). CONCLUSION: Although the multiparity is decreasing and its associated factors seem to improve, the vigilance is asked again in order to avoid the inherent risks.
BACKGROUND: Multiparity, risk factor of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality, is a worldwide public health problem. In Tunisia, in spite of the activities of the national program of maternal and infantile health implanted since 1966, the multiparity is yet observed in some regions of our country. Our objective is to draw up the epidemiological profile of the multipara woman (parity<6) and the grand multipara (parity> or =6) in the sanitary district of Monastir and to study the chronological tendencies of the factors associated during a decade (from 1994 to 2003). METHODS: In all, 16649 multipara were studied, representing 24% of the total women admitted for childbirth in the public motherhoods of the district. The global means age was 33,3 +/- 4,5 years with a statistical significance between multipara and grand multipara (32,7 and 35,6 respectively). The prenatal follow up was absent or inadequate for 50,2% of multipara and 62,8% of the grand multipara (p <0,001). RESULTS: In the decade, the main chronological tendencies are similar in the two multipara groups. Their frequency decreased from 28,5 to 19% (p<0,001), yet the age and the adequate follow up increased from 32,6 to 34 years and from 37,4 to 57,9% respectively (p<0,001). CONCLUSION: Although the multiparity is decreasing and its associated factors seem to improve, the vigilance is asked again in order to avoid the inherent risks.