Trends and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in Zimbabwe, 2005-2015

dc.contributor.authorChibura, T.
dc.contributor.authorTwabi, H.S.
dc.contributor.authorMaluleke, Kuhlula
dc.contributor.authorMusekiwa, Alfred
dc.contributor.emailkuhlula.maluleke@up.ac.za
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-02T07:19:09Z
dc.date.available2025-07-02T07:19:09Z
dc.date.issued2024-06
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND : Adverse pregnancy outcomes, including abortions, miscarriages and stillbirths, are common in developing countries such as Zimbabwe. OBJECTIVE : To determine the trends and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS : This article is a secondary data analysis of three repeated cross-sectional Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Surveys to assess adverse pregnancy outcomes among women of reproductive age (15 - 49 years old) who fell pregnant during the study period. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were applied to the 2015 dataset to determine factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS : There was an overall increase in reported adverse pregnancy outcomes (stillbirths, miscarriages and abortions) from 2005 to 2015. The percentage of women who experienced adverse pregnancy outcomes among those who fell pregnant in the 5 years preceding each survey rose from 13.4% in 2005 to 13.8% in 2010, followed by a sharp increase to 16.3% in 2015. The multivariable model, belonging to the 35 - 49-year age group, was associated with almost a twofold increased odds of experiencing an adverse pregnancy outcome (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35 - 3.31, p=0.001). Women currently married/in a union (aOR 4.69, 95% CI 2.64 - 8.34, p<0.001) or formerly married/in a union (aOR 3.56, 95% CI 1.89 - 6.69, p=0.001) had higher odds of experiencing an adverse pregnancy outcome. Not belonging to any religion or being a traditionalist or Muslim decreased the odds of experiencing an adverse pregnancy outcome (aOR 0.58, 95% CI 0.42 - 0.80, p=0.001). Women from Harare (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.05 - 2.32, p=0.027), Mashonaland West (aOR 1.59, 95% CI 1.08 - 2.36, p=0.027) and Mashonaland Central (aOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.15 - 2.69, p=0.009) provinces had higher odds of experiencing adverse pregnancy outcomes than those from Bulawayo Province. Women who gave birth for the first time at ≥25 years of age (aOR 3.08, 95% CI 2.27 - 4.16, p<0.001) had higher odds of experiencing adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women who delivered 2 - 4 children (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.59 - 0.95, p=0.018) or ≥5 children (aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.36 - 0.72, p<0.001) were less likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSION : Trends showed an increase in the proportion of women experiencing adverse pregnancy outcomes in Zimbabwe from 2005 to 2015. Advanced maternal age, marriage, lack of religion and living in Harare, Mashonaland Central or Mashonaland West were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is a need to reduce these outcomes through integration of social issues into maternal health programmes, as well as ensuring accessibility and availability of comprehensive reproductive health services that target high-risk groups such as women aged 35 - 49 years.
dc.description.departmentSchool of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH)
dc.description.librarianam2025
dc.description.sdgSDG-03: Good health and well-being
dc.description.urihttp://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj
dc.identifier.citationChibura, T., Twabi, H.S., Maluleke, K. et al. 2024, 'Trends and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in Zimbabwe, 2005-2015', South African Medical Journal, vol. 114, no. 6b, pp. 80-85. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i6b.1399.
dc.identifier.issn0256-9574 (print)
dc.identifier.issn2078-5135 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i6b.1399
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/103098
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSouth African Medical Association
dc.rights© T Chibura et al.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
dc.subjectTrends
dc.subjectFactors
dc.subjectAdverse pregnancy outcomes
dc.subjectAbortions
dc.subjectMiscarriages
dc.subjectStillbirths
dc.subjectZimbabwe
dc.titleTrends and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in Zimbabwe, 2005-2015
dc.typeArticle

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