Factors associated with miscarriage in Nepal: Evidence from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys, 2001-2016.

<h4>Background</h4>Miscarriage is a major public health concern in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Nepal. This study aims to examine the factors associated with miscarriage among pregnant women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in the past 15 years.<h4>Methods</h4&g...

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Main Authors: Sharadha Hamal, Yogendra B Gurung, Bidhya Shrestha, Prabin Shrestha, Nanda Lal Sapkota, Vijaya Laxmi Shrestha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0302001&type=printable
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author Sharadha Hamal
Yogendra B Gurung
Bidhya Shrestha
Prabin Shrestha
Nanda Lal Sapkota
Vijaya Laxmi Shrestha
author_facet Sharadha Hamal
Yogendra B Gurung
Bidhya Shrestha
Prabin Shrestha
Nanda Lal Sapkota
Vijaya Laxmi Shrestha
author_sort Sharadha Hamal
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Miscarriage is a major public health concern in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Nepal. This study aims to examine the factors associated with miscarriage among pregnant women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in the past 15 years.<h4>Methods</h4>There were a total of weighted sample of 26,376 cross-sectional pregnancy data from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016 combined together, which was used in the study. Multilevel logistic regression analysis that adjusted for cluster and survey weights was used to identify factors associated with miscarriage among pregnant women of reproductive age in Nepal.<h4>Results</h4>The results showed that maternal age, contraception, tobacco smoking, wealth index, respondents' educational status, and, caste/ethnicity were found to be strong factors of miscarriage in Nepal. The likelihood of having a miscarriage among older women (≥40 years) was more than 100% (aOR = 2.12, 95% CI [1.73, 2.59]), among non-users of contraception was 88.9% (aOR = 1.88, 95% CI [1.68, 2.11]) (p<005) and non-smoking women had a 19% lower odds of miscarriage (aOR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.69, 0.95]). Respondents from the richest wealth index had 50% (aOR = 1.50, 95% CI [1.22, 1.85]) higher likelihood of miscarriage. Mothers with only primary education had a 25% higher chance of miscarriage (aOR = 1.25, 95% CI [1.09, 1.44]) compared to those with secondary and higher secondary education. In relation to caste/ethnicity, Dalits had 13% lesser likelihood (aOR = 0.87, 95% CI [0.74, 1.02]) and Janajatis had 26% lower chances of a miscarriage than Brahmin/Chettri (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI [0.64, 0.85]).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Findings from this study show that miscarriages are associated with maternal age, use of contraception, smoking, wealth index, caste, and ethnicity. Interventions aimed to improve use of contraceptives, avoiding smoking and pregnancy planning on the basis of maternal age, are needed to prevent miscarriage. Also, women from Brahmin ethinicity and those with the highest income index require greater attention when it comes to miscarriage prevention strategies in Nepal.
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spelling doaj-art-15b0d38cfb524241a146b623b15ddfe92024-12-13T05:31:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-01194e030200110.1371/journal.pone.0302001Factors associated with miscarriage in Nepal: Evidence from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys, 2001-2016.Sharadha HamalYogendra B GurungBidhya ShresthaPrabin ShresthaNanda Lal SapkotaVijaya Laxmi Shrestha<h4>Background</h4>Miscarriage is a major public health concern in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Nepal. This study aims to examine the factors associated with miscarriage among pregnant women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in the past 15 years.<h4>Methods</h4>There were a total of weighted sample of 26,376 cross-sectional pregnancy data from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016 combined together, which was used in the study. Multilevel logistic regression analysis that adjusted for cluster and survey weights was used to identify factors associated with miscarriage among pregnant women of reproductive age in Nepal.<h4>Results</h4>The results showed that maternal age, contraception, tobacco smoking, wealth index, respondents' educational status, and, caste/ethnicity were found to be strong factors of miscarriage in Nepal. The likelihood of having a miscarriage among older women (≥40 years) was more than 100% (aOR = 2.12, 95% CI [1.73, 2.59]), among non-users of contraception was 88.9% (aOR = 1.88, 95% CI [1.68, 2.11]) (p<005) and non-smoking women had a 19% lower odds of miscarriage (aOR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.69, 0.95]). Respondents from the richest wealth index had 50% (aOR = 1.50, 95% CI [1.22, 1.85]) higher likelihood of miscarriage. Mothers with only primary education had a 25% higher chance of miscarriage (aOR = 1.25, 95% CI [1.09, 1.44]) compared to those with secondary and higher secondary education. In relation to caste/ethnicity, Dalits had 13% lesser likelihood (aOR = 0.87, 95% CI [0.74, 1.02]) and Janajatis had 26% lower chances of a miscarriage than Brahmin/Chettri (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI [0.64, 0.85]).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Findings from this study show that miscarriages are associated with maternal age, use of contraception, smoking, wealth index, caste, and ethnicity. Interventions aimed to improve use of contraceptives, avoiding smoking and pregnancy planning on the basis of maternal age, are needed to prevent miscarriage. Also, women from Brahmin ethinicity and those with the highest income index require greater attention when it comes to miscarriage prevention strategies in Nepal.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0302001&type=printable
spellingShingle Sharadha Hamal
Yogendra B Gurung
Bidhya Shrestha
Prabin Shrestha
Nanda Lal Sapkota
Vijaya Laxmi Shrestha
Factors associated with miscarriage in Nepal: Evidence from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys, 2001-2016.
PLoS ONE
title Factors associated with miscarriage in Nepal: Evidence from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys, 2001-2016.
title_full Factors associated with miscarriage in Nepal: Evidence from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys, 2001-2016.
title_fullStr Factors associated with miscarriage in Nepal: Evidence from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys, 2001-2016.
title_full_unstemmed Factors associated with miscarriage in Nepal: Evidence from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys, 2001-2016.
title_short Factors associated with miscarriage in Nepal: Evidence from Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys, 2001-2016.
title_sort factors associated with miscarriage in nepal evidence from nepal demographic and health surveys 2001 2016
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0302001&type=printable
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