The effect of sickle cell anemia on obstetric performance in a Nigerian community.

Twenty-six pregnancies in 20 parturients were studied. There was a high frequency of antenatal complications, especially bone pain crisis (61%), haemolytic crisis (31%), urinary tract infection (42%), pneumonia (23%) and malaria (23%). Ninety-six percent of the patients were anaemic at first clinic attendance. There was a high operative delivery rate (29%), mainly by forceps or vacuum extraction. The perinatal mortality rate was 250 per 1000. There was one maternal death.