Abstract

Background: Annually, over 200 million pregnancies occur globally, with 40% unplanned. Early prenatal care is crucial in preventing poor outcomes. Maternal mortality remains high, especially in developing nations. In addition, maternal morbidity and delivery complications can adversely affect the developing baby, potentially leading to fatal outcomes such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or early neonatal death.
Aims of the study: To estimate the prevalence of pregnancy complications and associated factors among women attending antenatal care at Basrah Maternity and Child Hospital and Alrazi Primary Health Care Center in Basrah City.
Subjects and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Basrah Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Children and Alrazi Primary Health Care Center in Basrah City, examining pregnancy-related complications in 150 women from October 1, 2023, to April 1, 2024. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires that covered socio-demographics, pregnancy characteristics, antenatal care knowledge, and complications.
Results: The study analyzed 150 women, 44% of whom were 30-39 years old, 86% of whom lived in urban areas, and 78% of whom were housewives. Pregnancy complications affected 37.3%, mainly anemia (26.7%) and urinary tract infections (21.3%). Complications were significantly associated with age (p = 0.004), rural residency (p = 0.002), lower education (p = 0.001), unemployment (p = 0.03), and low socioeconomic status (p = 0.001). Previous pregnancy complications, late antenatal care visits, and history of abortion were also significant (p=0.001).
Conclusion:    The study found that pregnancy complications like anemia and UTIs are common and significantly linked to older maternal age, rural residency, lower education, low socioeconomic status, previous abortions, and poor knowledge of early prenatal care benefits.