Pregnancy disorders in Africa and the obstetric dilemma

The high neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality associated with the extremes of birth weight is referred to as the obstetric dilemma. Pre-eclampsia and other conditions that lead to low birth weight are considered as the Great Obstetrical Syndromes (GOS). At the other extreme is high birth weight resulting in obstructed labour. Fetal weight largely depends on placental function and defective placentation is a common feature of the GOS. There is evidence that the local uterine immune system (KIR and HLA-C) regulates placentation, with racial differences noted. These differences may be responsible for the striking obstetric dilemma in Africans.