A Review of Twinning in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Background: Twin pregnancy is as fascinating as it is high risk and its epidemiology is globally more dynamic in the recent times. It is associated with increase maternal morbidities, fetal wastage and neonatal morbidities and mortality. Objectives: To determine the current incidence, assess the trend and investigate maternal and perinatal outcomes and influencing factors of twinning. Methods: For this case control study, data was collected on twin pregnancies; the study group and singleton pregnancies; the control group between January 2009 and December 2016 at a missionary Hospital in south-south Nigeria. EPI INFO and INSTAT statistical software were used for analyses and Fisher’s exact test for tests of statistical associations setting the statistical significance at <.05. Results: Among 8769 deliveries were 207 pairs of twins, a twinning incidence of 2.4% or 1 in 42 with an upward trend in incidence. Twin mothers were relatively older with those aged 30-34 years (41.2%) as the modal age group, less literate and less likely to have prenatal care. They were more prone to anemia, caesarean birth, Postpartum hemorrhage, gestational hypertension and blood transfusion (P<0.05). Mean gestational age and birth weight of twins were 35.5±3.8 weeks and 2352.9±746.4gm respectively. The twins were associated with increased preterm births (OR 28.1, P<0.001), Low birth weight (OR 15.6-24.1, P<0.001), perinatal death (OR 3.6, P<0.001), birth asphyxia (OR 2.9-5.9, P<0.01) and Special Care Baby Unit admission (OR 9.8-12.5, P<0.001). About 7 (66.2%) and 3 (31.4%) of every 10 first twins were in cephalic and breech presentation respectively with cephalic/cephalic (44.0%) the leading paired presentations. Conclusion: There was high and increasing incidence of twinning in this population. Twin pregnancy is associated with increased maternal morbidity and perinatal morbidity and mortality. To improve twinning outcome will require quality obstetric and perinatal care