Year: 2025 | Month: April | Volume: 15 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 299-305
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20250443
Study of the Weekend Referral Pattern of Obstetric Cases in Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study
Chintana R Chandra1, Sheral Raina Tauro2, Gowdhami S3, Sinchan B4, Aishwarya H K5, Anuradha Kamanna6
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BMCRI, Bangalore, India
2,3,4,5Department of Obstetrics and gynaecology, RIMS, Imphal, India
6Department of Internal Medicine, SSIMSRC, Bangalore, India
Corresponding Author: Anuradha Kamanna
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Referral of high risk obstetric cases to a tertiary centre from a health centre can save the lives of both the mother and their infants. Referral should be prompt and should avoid all the three delays for which pattern of referral during weekdays and during weekend need from the periphery health centre need to be studied.
Objectives: To analyze the referral pattern of high-risk obstetric cases from secondary to tertiary care on weekends.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from July 2022 to September 2023 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute among 400 obstetric cases referred from various health centres at periphery. Demographic data was collected and analysed.
Results: Out of 400 participants, 69.3% were referred during the weekdays and 30.7% in weekend. 21% of the patients were referred due to HDP followed by fetal distress (9%). 6.8% of the patients were referred due to non-availability of doctors. Weekend referral was not associated with gestational age, parity, antenatal period, mode of management, LSCS, admission in OBG ICU, admission in NICU, maternal mortality, PNM and Blood transfusion. The mean delay in hours for referral to tertiary institute was significantly more in weekdays when compared with weekend referral.
Conclusion: Out of all seven days in a week, weekend referral accounted for one third of all cases and non-availability of doctors was one of the main reasons which could be corrected with certain policies.
Key words: Weekend referral, weekday referral, obstetrics, tertiary hospital