Demographic and fertility variables as determinants of spontaneous abortions in women with previous abortions

The objective of the study was to examine the demographic and fertility factors that may predispose to spontaneous abortion in women with prior abortion. The study was conducted in King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It included a series of women who aborted their pregnancies over a period of months (January 1; 1992-December 31, 1992). Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used to analyze the statistical relationship between abortion and various demographic and fertility, related to abortion. There was a direct statistically significant relationship between maternal age, level of education, parity and a history of previous abortion. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, parity and history of previous abortion were found to be significant as determinants of recurrent abortion. Even though many of these risk factors are not preventable, counseling of the women about the value of education, early reproduction in the child-bearing age, and control of fertility would go a long way in reducing the incidence of fetal wastage in these women.