Correlates of Pregnancy Loss Experiences in Ghana

ABSTRACT

The reduction in the rate of miscarriage, stillbirth and induced abortion is a major challenge for thehealth system, governments and the society (Schoeps et al.,2007). This incidence is often high and concentrated in regions with most disadvantaged populations with low income and Ghana is not an exception. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to identify and examine the correlates of pregnancy loss experience among ever pregnant women in their reproductive ages in Ghana using the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. The other objectives of the study was to identify some risk factors associated with pregnancy loss among women in Ghana and also to examine household factors that influence pregnancy loss among women in Ghana. The study uses univariate, bivariate and multivariate techniques to assess the influence of women’s demographic and socio-economic background characteristics. Results show that the highest proportion of ever pregnant women werebetween the ages of 25-29 years was (19.4%). On marital status of these ever pregnant women, 69.5 per cent of them were married as against 19.8 per cent who were never married. An overwhelming proportion (80.1%) of ever pregnant women reported that they had never consumed any alcoholic beverages relative to 19.9 per cent who affirmed that they had ever taken or consumed alcohol. Also about 74 per cent of these women reported having easy access to health facility for antenatal care services as compared to 26.3 per cent who affirmed that they encountered difficulty in accessing health care. The results shows that 1-in-5 women ever pregnant had experienced pregnancy loss. The bivariate results indicate a statistically significant relationship between the demographic and socio-economic background characteristics of ever pregnant women in Ghana and their pregnancy loss experiences. Higher proportion (23.3%) of women who have attained primary education had ever terminated their pregnancies compared to women who had no education (14.7%). Ever pregnant women who dwell in urban areas had a higher proportion (22.1%) of those who had experienced pregnancy loss relative to their counterparts who resides in the rural areas (18.4%). On the consumption of alcohol, women who ever consumed any alcoholic beverages have a higher proportion of them having loss their pregnancies as against those who never consumed. Binary logistic regression analysis was also conducted to determine the link between the correlates of pregnancy loss and pregnancy loss experiences. Results of the regression models indicated that ever pregnant women who ever consume alcohol were more likely to experience pregnancy loss. In terms of the other correlates of pregnancy loss experiences, the respondent’s age, educational level, their marital status, place and region of residence, the type of occupation and their wealth index were significant predictors of pregnancy loss experiences. The study therefore recommends there should be more reproductive health public education especially for young women as they enter their reproductive ages on safe practices during pregnancy period.