RTI uses cookies to offer you the best experience online. By clicking “accept” on this website, you opt in and you agree to the use of cookies. If you would like to know more about how RTI uses cookies and how to manage them please view our Privacy Policy here. You can “opt out” or change your mind by visiting: http://optout.aboutads.info/. Click “accept” to agree.
Introduction: To determine the outcomes of vaginal deliveries in three study hospitals in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), People's Republic of China (PRC), at high attitude (3650 m). Methods: Prospective observational study of 1121 vaginal deliveries. Results: Pre-eclampsia/ gestational hypertension (PE/GH) was the most common maternal complication 18.9% (n = 212), followed by postpartum hemorrhage (blood loss >= 500 ml) 13.4%. There were no maternal deaths. Neonatal complications included: low birth weight (10.2%), small for gestational age (13.7%), pre-term delivery (4.1 %) and tow Apgar (3.7%). There were 11 stillbirths (9.8/1000 live births) and 19 early neonatal deaths (17/1000 live births). Conclusion: This is the largest study of maternal and newborn outcomes in Tibet. It provides information on the outcomes of institutional vaginal births among women delivering infants at high attitude. There was a higher incidence of PE/GH and tow birth weight; rates of PPH were not increased compared to those at tower attitudes.