Failure to perform assisted deliveries is resulting in an increased neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality : an expert opinion

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Authors

Pattinson, Robert Clive
Vannevel, Valerie
Barnard, Dalene
Baloyi, S.
Gebhardt, G.S.
Le Roux, K.
Moran, N.
Moodley, J.

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Volume Title

Publisher

Health and Medical Publishing Group

Abstract

The need to perform assisted vaginal delivery (AVD) has been regarded as self-evident. In high-income countries, rates of AVD range between 5% and 20% of all births. In South Africa, the rate of AVD is only 1%. This has resulted in increased neonatal morbidity and mortality due to intrapartum asphyxia, and increased maternal morbidity and mortality due to a rise in second-stage caesarean deliveries. In this article, we address the possible causes leading to a decrease in AVD and propose measures to be taken to increase the rates of AVD and subsequently reduce morbidity and mortality.

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Keywords

Assisted vaginal delivery (AVD), Asphyxia, Birth injury, Pelvic disproportion, Cerebral palsy (CP), Cesarean section, Fetus distress, Health care management, High income country, Hospitalization, Instrumental delivery, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Midwife, Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Obstetric hemorrhage, Obstetric procedure, Vacuum extraction, South Africa (SA)

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Citation

Pattinson, R.C., Vannevel, V., Barnard, D. et al. 2018, 'Failure to perform assisted deliveries is resulting in an increased neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality : an expert opinion', South African Medical Journal, vol. 108, no. 2, pp. 75-78.