Onuchukwu Victor Jude Uchenna¹, Obi Vitus Okwuchukwu¹, Nwafor Johnbosco Ifunanya^1,, Onwe Blessing Idzuinya¹, Ugoji Darlington-Peter Chibuzor¹, Obi Chuka Nobert¹, Ibo Chukwunenye Chukwu¹, Agu Chidinma Joy²

Background: Pregnancies in women of advanced maternal age have been historically regarded as high risk pregnancies because of the associated increase in risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and/or mortality. Hence, there is a need to evaluate the pregnancy outcome of elderly primigravidae in our setting. Aim: To determine the pregnancy outcomes in elderly primigravidae compared to the younger primigravidae at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Materials and Method: This was a retrospective case-control study of pregnancy outcomes of 49 elderly primigravidae (case group), who delivered at the hospital over a 5-year period, were compared with those of 98 younger primigravidae (control group) (≤ 34 years old) that delivered during the same period. Data collection was done using a pre-designed proforma; analysis was done using Epi Info 7.2.1 CDC. Result: During the study period, there were 11703 deliveries. The incidence of elderly primigravidity was 0.42%. The mean age of the study group was 36.5 ± 1.7 years and that of the control group was 24.3 ± 4.2 years. Forty-four (89.8%) patients were booked in the study group, while 71 (72.8%) patients were booked in the control group. Elderly primigravidae were more likely to book before 14 weeks’ gestational age compared with younger primigravidae (χ²=33.29, P<0.0001). The average gestational age at delivery for the study group and control group were 39.0 ± 3.7 weeks and 37.0 ± 4.1 weeks respectively. The incidence of malaria infection was higher in the younger control group while in the elderly primigravidae the rate of diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders, multiple gestation and anaemia were higher ; but not statistically significant ((p>0.05)). The caesarean section rate in the case group was higher but of no statistical significance (p=0.51). There was no recorded maternal death in both groups. Conclusion: Elderly primigravidity is not uncommon in our environment. Due to the anxiety associated with such pregnancies they were more likely to book earlier than the younger primigravidae. Although they were more likely to have medical complications, the maternal and perinatal outcomes were not statistically different from younger primigravidae.

elderly, primigravidae, pregnancy, outcomes, Abakaliki