Nutrition and obstructed labor

Obstructed labor is one of the most common preventable causes of maternal a nd perinatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Among the com mon causes are cephalopelvic disproportion, malpresentation, and malpositio n. Recognizing the causes of obstructed labor is important if the complicat ions are to be prevented. Adequate prevention, however, can be achieved onl y through a multidisciplinary approach aimed in the short term at identifyi ng high-risk cases and in the long term at improving nutrition. Early mothe rhood should be discouraged, and efforts are needed to improve nutrition du ring infancy, childhood, early adulthood, and pregnancy. Improving the acce ss to. and promoting the use of reproductive and contraceptive services wil l help reduce the prevalence of this complication.