Factors influencing pregnancy outcomes in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

Neonatal, perinatal and infant mortality rates are still high in developing countries despite national and international efforts to redress this problem. This study was conducted to investigate maternal knowledge and attitudes regarding the risk factors that adversely affect pregnancy outcomes in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. A longitudinal study was conducted among 157 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics from their second trimesters to term. Socio-economic, demographic, anthropometric, biomedical and obstetric information was collected. Results showed that, majority of the pregnant women (> 70%, n = 157) were aware of the risk factors that could adversely affect the pregnancy outcomes, however, they did not know the exact mechanisms by which the risk factors acted to cause the adverse effects. Occurrence of risk factors among pregnant women was severe anaemia - 1.4%, smoking (0.6%), passive smoking (22.9%), alcohol consumption (2.5%), unmarried status (11.5%), under-age (< 20 years) (17.8%), over-age (> 35 years) (4.5%), history of stillbirth (7.0%), history of caesarean section (3.2%) and history of miscarriage (2.5%). Maternal total weight gain in the last two trimesters was 7.76 kg. The average birth weight was 3.05 kg, with male infants being heavier (3.14 kg) than their female counterparts (2.95 kg). The incidence of low birth weight was 11.6%, lower than the national average of 18%. It was concluded from this study that, although most women were aware of the pregnancy risk factors, they lacked the knowledge on how the factors affected the pregnancy outcomes. Occurrence of the pregnancy risk factors was generally low and the pregnancy outcomes were good. It is recommended that, women should be educated more about the pregnancy risk factors and encouraged to begin their antenatal clinic early in pregnancy. A larger study should also be conducted to ascertain the association of the other risk factors with pregnancy outcomes, starting with pregnant women in their first trimester.