A Study on Miscarriage Incidence and Associated Risk Factors Among Women in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Abstract
Early pregnancy loss remains a significant reproductive health issue, yet healthcare professionals continue to face challenges in reliably identifying predictive risk factors for miscarriage. The present cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence and underlying risk factors contributing to miscarriage among women in District Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 30 participants from local healthcare facilities, including Jamal Medical Center and Sardar Medical Center, Swabi. The analysis revealed several prominent risk factors: elevated body mass index (BMI) was observed in 50% of participants, a positive family history of miscarriage was present in 60%, insufficient or inappropriate supplement intake in 80%, hypertension in 86.6%, and active infections in 60% of cases. Socioeconomic status and lack of awareness regarding maternal health were also found to be significant contributing factors. These findings underscore the urgent need for early diagnostic protocols and community-based health education initiatives. Further research, ideally involving a larger cohort and more advanced diagnostic tools, is essential to develop effective predictive models for miscarriage risk.
