OBJECTIVE: To assess general and reproductive health in women after severe maternal morbidity (SMM). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary maternity hospital. Women with SMM criteria who delivered during 2008-2012 were included in the SMM group. The control group included a random sample of women without SMM delivering in the same year of cases. Both groups were compared regarding sociodemographic/obstetric characteristics, general and reproductive health, using χ2 , Yates χ2 , Fisher exact, and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: There were 315 women in the SMM group and 323 women in the control group. The SMM group was older and had a history of more medical conditions (hypertension, diabetes, obesity), cesarean deliveries, preterm births, and perinatal deaths. Breastfeeding was negatively affected in these women, as was fertility. The SMM group had a non-significant trend of fewer children after index pregnancy, had new complications in subsequent pregnancies, and required specialized medical care, besides higher risk of death. CONCLUSION: Women experiencing SMM are at higher risk of general and reproductive health problems after pregnancy, including risk of death. Therefore, their surveillance and follow-up should continue beyond 42 days postpartum, highlighting the importance of more specialized health care.
OBJECTIVE: To assess general and reproductive health in women after severe maternal morbidity (SMM). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary maternity hospital. Women with SMM criteria who delivered during 2008-2012 were included in the SMM group. The control group included a random sample of women without SMM delivering in the same year of cases. Both groups were compared regarding sociodemographic/obstetric characteristics, general and reproductive health, using χ2 , Yates χ2 , Fisher exact, and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: There were 315 women in the SMM group and 323 women in the control group. The SMM group was older and had a history of more medical conditions (hypertension, diabetes, obesity), cesarean deliveries, preterm births, and perinatal deaths. Breastfeeding was negatively affected in these women, as was fertility. The SMM group had a non-significant trend of fewer children after index pregnancy, had new complications in subsequent pregnancies, and required specialized medical care, besides higher risk of death. CONCLUSION:Women experiencing SMM are at higher risk of general and reproductive health problems after pregnancy, including risk of death. Therefore, their surveillance and follow-up should continue beyond 42 days postpartum, highlighting the importance of more specialized health care.
Authors: Shalmali Bane; Suzan L Carmichael; Jonathan M Snowden; Can Liu; Audrey Lyndon; Elizabeth Wall-Wieler Journal: Ann Epidemiol Date: 2021-08-19 Impact factor: 3.797