SPONTANEOUS MISCARRIAGES AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH RISK DETERMINANTS IN PREGNANT OBESE WOMEN VISITING KHYBER TEACHING HOSPITAL PESHAWAR

Abstract

Background: This study aims to determine the frequency of spontaneous miscarriages among pregnant obese women as well as to find the possible association between increasing age, parity, gravidity and gestation period with spontaneous miscarriages.
Methods: This cross-sectional study includes 163 obese pregnant women. Sample size was calculated using WHO sample size calculator. All the pregnant women fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The demographic information was recorded in pre-designed proforma. Spontaneous miscarriage was considered positive if the patient has spontaneous loss of pregnancy prior to viability that is gestational age of 23 weeks and 6 days. It was diagnosed by history of vaginal bleeding (bleeding ? 300 ml) & abdominal pain (assessed as VAS scale, score greater than 3) & confirmed on ultrasound scan of pelvis (absence of fetal heart beat). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0.
Results: The mean age of the study participants was 31±8.18 years where 59 (36%) of the participants were in between 18-30 years while 104 (64%) patients were in the age range of 31-40 years. Similarly, 62 (38%) patients were primigravida, 65 (40%) women had Primipara and 67 (41%) patients had <12 weeks of gestation period. The frequencies of miscarriages were high in patients with increasing age, multi gravidity, multiparity and gestation period greater than 12 weeks. However, the results were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The frequencies of spontaneous miscarriages were 14%. The rates of spontaneous miscarriages were higher in women with increasing age, multi-parity, multi-gravidity and higher gestation period.