Obstetric outcome of twin gestations in a tertiary hospital South-western Nigeria

Background: Twin pregnancy is considered a high risk pregnancy due to associated adverse obstetric outcomes. The objective was to determine the prevalence, complications and the obstetric outcomes of twin deliveries in EKSUTH. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of twin gestations managed at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti between January 2009 and December 2012 was done. Results: The prevalence of twin deliveries was 1 in 23 deliveries (4.3%). Increasing age and parity and Yoruba ethnicity were associated with higher twinning rate. The mean gestational age at delivery was 36.6 +/- 2.9 weeks and the mean birth weight was 2.47 +/- 0.49 kg with first twins having higher birth weight. Spontaneous vaginal delivery was the most common mode of delivery accounting for 52.6% and 49.3% in twin 1 and twin 2, respectively, and majority (39.5%) of the twins were in cephalic cephalic presentation. The most common indication for caesarean delivery was breech presentation in the first twin. Preterm labour was the commonest maternal complications occurring in 25.7% of cases. The perinatal mortality rate was 105 per 1000 deliveries and this was significantly associated with unbooked patients, p=0.001. There were no maternal deaths. Conclusion: Preterm labour remains the commonest complication with associated high perinatal mortality.