Analysis of Risk Factors and Risky Pregnancies Among Pregnant Women Who Admitted to Hospital for Prenatal Care

Abstract

Objective: Every woman wants to have a healthy pregnancy and have a healthy baby, but it brings important risks. Risky pregnancies are with many different dimensions that negatively affect maternal and infant health. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of risk factors leading to risky pregnancies which are important for public health, to reveal the reasons and to offer solutions. Methods: This is a cross – sectional study of 409 married women who applied to the hospital for prenatal care. A questionnaire prepared by the researchers was used for data collection by face-to-face interview technique. Percentage, mean, and chi-square test were used to evaluate the data. Results: Although pregnancy is a physiological process, 67.7% of the pregnant women had at least one risk factor and 27.6% had more than one risk factor. Risk factors such as having caesarean section, having four or more pregnancies, being 35 and over age, unwanted pregnancy status and having less than two years between the last two pregnancies were found to be the most common risk factors seen in pregnant women. Conclusion: Because risky pregnancies are an important public health problem and most of them are preventable; preconceptional care should be expanded to control the mother and baby before threatening their health.