Abstract:

Background: The perinatal mortality rates are five times higher in twin pregnancies than singleton pregnancies, therefore antenatal management and safe delivery of twin pregnancies are important issues in obstetrics. This study aimed at providing data on the proportion of twin deliveries in four public hospitals in Dar es Salaam and an insight on the fetal outcomes in relation to their modes of delivery.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study in which all women who delivered twin babies were interviewed and medical records on their delivery summary were obtained in the labour and post-natal wards in four public hospitals in Dar es Salaam between July and December 2011. Post-natal follow up was done on seventh day by contacting women by telephone to establish the neonatal status.

Results: There were 33,638 total deliveries of which 672 were twin deliveries making the prevalence of 2.0% (20 per 1,000 births). Of all twin deliveries analyzed (666 pairs), 373(56.0%) had the diagnosis of twin pregnancy made antenatally. Vaginal delivery was the major mode of delivery (77.3%). whereas combined delivery in which the first twin was delivered vaginally and the second twin by caesarian section accounted for only 2.6%. At birth 1252(94%) of twins were alive, 60(4.5%), were fresh stillbirths and 20(1.5%) were macerated stillbirths. Low Apgar score was more to first twins delivered vaginally compared to first twins (p-value=0.003). Low Apgar score (AS <7) was more amongst second twins delivered vaginally at 30 minutes or longer 27(48.2%) compared to twins delivered in less than 30 minutes 72(15.4%), (p-value=0.001).

Conclusion: There was a significant association between vaginal delivery and low Apgar score at one minute. Long duration of twin to twin delivery interval was associated with low Apgar score of the second twins delivered vaginally. Perinatal mortality rate was also higher in the second twins compared to the first twins. The time delivery interval of the second twin should be made as short as possible by active management of all second twins. Neonatal facilities are required in all hospitals conducting twin deliveries to care for premature babies.