Abstract:
Background: Amniotic fluid encompasses the developing fetus, creating the perfect environment
for healthy fetal growth and development. Oligohydramnios refers to the amniotic fluid volume
that is less than the minimum expected for the gestational age. It’s diagnosed by ultrasound
examination, preferably based on an objective measurement such as amniotic fluid index (AFI)
≤5cm or single deepest pocket (SDP) <2 cm. Oligohydramnios can result from several congenital
fetal defects, uteroplacental insufficiency, early membrane rupture, growth restriction, post-term
pregnancy, chronic placental abruption, etc. Oligohydramnios can substantially impair fetal
health, leading to issues including pulmonary hypoplasia and meconium aspiration syndrome,
among others. The fetal prognosis depends on several factors, particularly the underlying cause,
severity (reduced versus no amniotic fluid), and gestational age at the occurrence. Since there is
no research on the effect of oligohydramnios in maternal and fetal outcomes in our setup, this
study result will provide health professionals with an evidence-based decision.
Objective: To compare the Maternal and perinatal outcomes among women with
oligohydramnios and normal amniotic fluid in term singleton pregnancy from March 2022 to
Oct. 2022 among women managed at Jimma Medical Center, Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia.
Method: A hospital-based prospective cohort study was conducted on term oligohydramnios
pregnant mothers admitted to the labor ward from March 2022 to Oct. 2022. Purposive
sequential enrolment of the test cohort after each study cohort was conducted and face-to-face
interviews and patient chart reviews were conducted using a pretested structured questionnaire
by trained medical interns and residents. Perinatal outcomes of the study participants were
observed at admission, intrapartum, discharge, and 7 days following delivery. The telephone-
based interview was used to complete data on 7 days postpartum for those discharged earlier.
Data were collected by using KoBoToolbox and exported to SPSS Version 26 for data analysis.
X 2 test, ANOVA, and independent t-test were used for comparisons, and logistic regression
analysis is done. A 95% CI and P value < .05 were used to determine the level of statistical
significance
