ABSTRACT

Background & Objective: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is the most common cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester. It seems that early diagnosis and treatment of EP could help and improve the prognosis of fertility rate in the future.This study was conducted to determinethe prevalenceof ectopic pregnancyin Ardabil hospitals in the years2005-2008.

Methods: In this retrospective descriptive and cross-sectional study, 29793 pregnancies were recorded in Ardabil between 2005- 2008 and 82 cases of these pregnancies were ectopic.in this study sampling were coallected using concensus method. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire with two parts: demographic questions and questions on risk factors of ectopic pregnancy. The data were analyzed by SPSS 11using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Prevalence of EP in Ardabil was found to be (0.3%). Most of the patients (84%) were 30±8.6 years of age. 55 persons ( 67%), were primipara and 19 persons (23.2%), had a history 1-3 times abortion.The result of research showed that 44 of the patients (67%), had experienced factors effective in EP. From these 33 persons, (56.2), with abdomino-pelvic surgeries such as cesarean, appendectomy, laparoscopy, ovarian cyst and tubectomywere. The most common sign was abdominal pain 58 persons, (%69.2). Only two patients of all were treated by medical method using and the rest were operated. 48 persons (%58.5), with ectopic pregnancy used contracep tives. Most of these women, 20 persons -%24.4, had used OCP (oral contraceptive pill).

Conclusion: Given that most of the studied cases have had at least one risk factor for ectopic pregnancy, some preventive methods including Bayer methods (spermicides, condoms and diaphragms) andalso promoting normal delivery rather than cesarean section should be considered.

 Key words: Ectopic pregnancy,Prevalence, Risk factors