Prevalence of maternal health problems and adverse birth outcome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of pregnancy related maternal complications and birth outcome among women in Jeddah city Saudi Arabia. This was a cross section study where convenient samples of females were approached via online electronic platform using a questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed data regarding the participants’ socio-demographic and personal characteristics, reported maternal complications and adverse birth outcomes during pregnancy. The chi square test of significance and principal component factor analysis were used. Level of significance was 0.05. This study comprised 301 women with mean age of 32.71 years (SD: 10.285). The self-reported maternal health problems according to order of frequency were miscarriage (46.2%); caesarian section (30.6%); still birth 27.9%; Hypertension (25.1%); Gestational diabetes (18.3%); vaginal bleeding (13.3%); puerperal sepsis (10.3%); premature labor (9.3%); polyhydramnios (9%); and pre-eclampsia (3.3%). Adverse birth outcome was LBW (12.6%), and macrosomia (9.6%). Older age, smoking, and obesity of the pregnant mother, and family history of diabetes mellitus (DM) and gestational DM (GDM) were significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. Further investigations are needed to assess factors associated with these high frequency levels of maternal health complications. Furthermore, these findings have preventive and clinical implications concerning pregnant women with a history of smoking habit and hypertension.