Influence of Feto-maternal Parameters on Deviation from the Expected Date of Delivery: A Cross-sectional Study among Parturient Women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The estimated date of delivery (EDD) is a crucial aspect of prenatal care, providing a timeline for monitoring fetal development and planning labour and delivery. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate whether feto-maternal parameters could affect the expected delivery date among parturient women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design, using cluster sampling techniques. Three hundred parturient women were recruited after calculation of the minimum sample size, and data were obtained through direct anthropometric measurements of the mothers and babies. The data obtained were analysed using IBM SPSS version 25. Results: Most feto-maternal parameters showed no significant influence on EDD deviation, including fetal length (p=0.68), MAC (p=0.42), HC (p=0.37), AC (p=0.24), and maternal factors such as height (p=0.91), weight (p=0.23; p=0.12), and BMI (p=0.81; p=0.97); only fetal weight was significant (3.37±0.53 versus 3.11±0.52; p=0.02). Most deliveries occurred within ±14 days of EDD (91.3%), mainly before EDD (58.3%), followed by after EDD (37.7%) and on EDD (4.0%). Mode of delivery was significantly associated with EDD deviation (χ²=13.86; p=0.00) but not with its type (p=0.07), while maternal age significantly influenced both deviation type (χ²=17.07; p=0.03) and occurrence (χ²=66.08; p=0.0001), with higher deviation among older women. Conclusion: The study investigated factors influencing EDD deviation and found that fetal weight, mode of delivery and maternal age significantly influenced EDD deviation.