Pregnancy Wastage in Rural Ethiopia: A Follow up Study

Pregnancy related studies usually use clinical records. In Ethiopia, Community based studies on pregnancy wastage is lacking. Such information helps to identify the main gap in the provision of maternal health service. A prospective community based pregnancy wastage study was done on 2072 pregnancies who had produced 7802 person months. Socio demographic, economic, maternal reproductive health, access for health service and maternal nutritional status were used to explain pregnancy wastage. Categorical and general survival analysis using cox regression was done by STATA software, Kaplan Mire curve was plotted. Proportionality of the hazard was assessed using graph plotting was done for the explanatory variables and holds. Pregnancy wastage was recorded among 143 of 1438 terminated pregnancies. Among the wasted pregnancies 116 were pregnancies ended in bleeding and 27 were still birth. The hazard of pregnancy wastage is increased by 75.8 % among those having less than two year pregnancy interval; by 57.1 % among unintended pregnancies; by 450 % among STI like complaining women; by 40.6 % among never booked for antenatal follow up care. Pregnancy wastage is a common problem. It is primarily associated with unintended pregnancy, shorter pregnancy interval, STI like illness during pregnancy and failure to use antenatal care. Hence the researchers would like to recommend the health extension workers should identify and follow pregnant women for antenatal care, provision of family planning to increase pregnancy interval for the next pregnancy and to refer for further checkup when STI like complaints occur.