Umbilical artery lactate levels and associated maternal and newborn characteristics at Mulago National Referral Hospital: A cross-sectional observational study

Objective: To determine the maternal and newborn characteristics associated with high umbilical artery lactate levels at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a national referral hospital located in the capital of Uganda, Kampala. Participants: We randomly selected 720 pregnant mothers at term who presented in labour and their newborn babies. Primary outcome: Umbilical artery lactate level. Results: During the study, there were 579 vaginal deliveries (18 instrumental) and 141 caesarean sections which met the inclusion criteria. One hundred eighty seven neonates (187) had high arterial lactate levels. The following factors were associated with an increased likelihood of high lactate concentration: male sex (aOR = 1.71; 95%CI 1.16–2.54; P<0.05), primigravidity (aOR = 2.78; 95%CI 1.89-4.08; P < 0.001), Meconium stained liquor (MSL) (aOR = 5.85; 95%CI 4.08-8.47; P<0.001) and...