Motor–vehicle injury in pregnancy and subsequent feto-maternal outcomes: of grave concern

Abstract

Objectives: (1) To evaluate maternal and fetal outcome after motor-vehicle injury during pregnancy. (2) To determine if there was prenatal care provider counseling for seat belt use.

Methods: Retrospective chart analysis of materno-fetal outcome following motor vehicle injury in 728 pregnant women between 2009 and 2012. Women attending antenatal clinics over these years were asked if they were counseled regarding correct seat belt use by prenatal health care providers during their antenatal visits.

Results: In these pregnant women, 80 (11%) sustained minor injuries/sprains. 648 women (89%) had severe adverse materno-fetal pregnancy outcomes. Important causes being: (1) placental abruption 58.8%; (2) preterm labor (40%); and (3) uterine rupture (1.6%). There were 100 (13.7%) maternal and 78 (10.7%) fetal deaths. 91 (12.5%) perimortem cesarean deliveries were performed and 74 (81%) fetus survived, as did 31 women. Prenatal care provider counseling for seat belt use occurred in 44.8% of prenatal visit. Only 125 (21%) were using seat belt during the accident.

Conclusion: Important causes of adverse pregnancy outcome were: abruptio placenta, preterm labor and uterine rupture. There were 100 maternal and 78 fetal deaths with 97 preterm births. Counseling occurred in 44.8% of women. Those using seat belts during the accidents sustained minor injuries.

• Adverse pregnancy outcome
• fetal deaths
• maternal deaths
• prenatal counseling
• seat belt use

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr Zeinab Mohammed Kaleemullah for assisting in data collection and for her co-operation and assistance throughout the period of our study.

Declaration of interest

The manuscript has been read and approved by all the authors, that the requirements for authorship as stated earlier in this document have been met, and that each author believes that the manuscript represents honest work.

I certify that no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this article exists, and the submitting/corresponding author signs for and accepts responsibility for realizing this material on behalf of any and all co-authors.