Miscarriage Prevalence and Public Perceptions in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence and measure the perceptions of women regarding causes, emotional feelings, and emotional support following a miscarriage. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted in the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 15th May 2023 to 30th August 2023. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among women living in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered Arabic questionnaire was sent to the eastern population using Social Media platforms. Data was analyzed in Software Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results:A total of 402 women responded, and 32.3% (130) were aged between 26 and 35 years. 57% (229) had a history of miscarriage and 26.2% (60) encountered recurrent miscarriages. Of the miscarried pregnancies 53.7% (216) were planned pregnancies. Approximately 78.4% (78) of women received medical care and (176) reported a miscarriage less than 7 weeks of pregnancy, The common perceived causes of miscarriage were spiritual 89.1% (358) and lifting heavy objects 60.3% (242). Almost 70.7% (284) had average emotional support after miscarriage, 16.2% (65) had high, and only 13.1% (52) had low emotional support received. Factors that influenced emotional support were the increasing parity, without a family history of miscarriage and repeated miscarriages (p<0.05). Conclusion: A high prevalence of miscarriage is recorded in Saudi Arabia's eastern province, with perceived causes encompassing destiny, lifting heavy objects, and fetal genetic abnormalities. Identifying causes is vital for improving awareness and effective counseling and support at healthcare facilities.

Keywords

• healthcare
• miscarriage
• perceptions
• prevalence