Maternal Height, Pelvic Typology, and Mode of Delivery: A Cross-Sectional Study from South Punjab

Abstract

Background: Maternal pelvic morphology and height influence delivery outcomes.  Pelvises can be classified as Gynecoid, android, anthropoid, and platypelloid pelvis. Short heighted females have more chances of contracted pelvis as compared to heighted females which have broader pelvis.  This study explores the association between maternal height and pelvic types, and their effect on delivery mode among women in Rahim Yar Khan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 384 postpartum women aged 18–35 years was conducted at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan. Maternal height was taken using stadiometer and pelvic types were measured via X-ray pelvimetry. Statistical tests assessed associations with delivery modes.

Findings: 38% of women had gynecoid pelvis, 25% android, 22% anthropoid, and 15% platypelloid. Vaginal delivery was more frequent in women with gynecoid pelvis (82%) and taller height. A Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to calculate the relationship of maternal height to the type of bony pelvis. The results showed a positive correlation between maternal height and the presence of a gynecoid pelvis (r = 0.35, p < 0.01), suggesting that taller women are more likely to have a gynecoid pelvis, which is favorable for vaginal delivery. Conversely, a negative correlation between maternal height and the presence of an android pelvis (r = -0.28, p<0.05) was seen, indicating that shorter women ae more likely to have an android pelvis, which may complicate vaginal delivery.

Interpretation:  Maternal height is associated with the types of bony pelvis and can significantly influence the mode of delivery. Study concluded a substantial correlation of the maternal height with the mode of delivery. The taller women were more likely to have gynecoid pelvis, favorable for vaginal delivery. X-ray pelvimetry remains a valuable tool in low-resource settings.