Prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa: Evidence from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey
Background. Adverse pregnancy outcomes are an important indicator of the overall health of a population and the socioeconomic development of a country. Objectives. To determine the prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes among women of reproductive age in South Afric...
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South African Medical Association
2024-06-01
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| Series: | South African Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/1241 |
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| author | L Mpolokeng A Musekiwa |
| author_facet | L Mpolokeng A Musekiwa |
| author_sort | L Mpolokeng |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Background. Adverse pregnancy outcomes are an important indicator of the overall health of a population and the socioeconomic development of a country.
Objectives. To determine the prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes among women of reproductive age in South Africa, and to recommend strategies to reduce the burden of these outcomes.
Methods. We conducted a secondary data analysis on women of reproductive age using data from the nationally representative, population- based, cross-sectional 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS). We described the sociodemographic characteristics of the study participants and determined the prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes using the multivariable logistic regression model. We adjusted all our analyses for complex survey sampling using survey weights.
Results. There were 8 514 women of reproductive age, of whom 41.2% had fallen pregnant during the 5-year period preceding the survey. The majority (70.9%) were of age 20 - 34 years, 78% had secondary education, 61.6% were unemployed, 65% were from urban areas, and more than 40% of these women were currently living with a man, while 51.5% reported that they had never been in a union. The prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was 14.6% (95% CI 13.2 - 16.1%). The odds of experiencing adverse pregnancy outcomes were significantly higher for those aged 35 - 49 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7.41, 95% CI 3.46 - 15.85) or 20 - 34 years (aOR 2.07, 95% CI 1.02 - 4.18), compared with those aged 15 - 19 years. Women who were currently in a union/living with a man (aOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.41 - 2.43) or formerly in a union/living with a man (aOR 2.66, 95% CI 1.64 - 4.29), compared with those who had never been in a union, had higher odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Contrarily, adverse pregnancy outcomes were lower with each additional child delivered or ever born (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58 - 0.75).
Conclusions. We report a high prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes among women of reproductive age in South Africa. We recommend addressing factors such as maternal age and currently/formerly living with a man within interventions to reduce the burden of adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-16eaf3c834f14f4c80d9dc11a8cf0afd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-16eaf3c834f14f4c80d9dc11a8cf0afd2025-02-10T12:25:57ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Medical Journal0256-95742078-51352024-06-011146b10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i16b.1241Prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa: Evidence from the 2016 Demographic and Health SurveyL Mpolokeng0A Musekiwa1School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaSchool of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa Background. Adverse pregnancy outcomes are an important indicator of the overall health of a population and the socioeconomic development of a country. Objectives. To determine the prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes among women of reproductive age in South Africa, and to recommend strategies to reduce the burden of these outcomes. Methods. We conducted a secondary data analysis on women of reproductive age using data from the nationally representative, population- based, cross-sectional 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS). We described the sociodemographic characteristics of the study participants and determined the prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes using the multivariable logistic regression model. We adjusted all our analyses for complex survey sampling using survey weights. Results. There were 8 514 women of reproductive age, of whom 41.2% had fallen pregnant during the 5-year period preceding the survey. The majority (70.9%) were of age 20 - 34 years, 78% had secondary education, 61.6% were unemployed, 65% were from urban areas, and more than 40% of these women were currently living with a man, while 51.5% reported that they had never been in a union. The prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was 14.6% (95% CI 13.2 - 16.1%). The odds of experiencing adverse pregnancy outcomes were significantly higher for those aged 35 - 49 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7.41, 95% CI 3.46 - 15.85) or 20 - 34 years (aOR 2.07, 95% CI 1.02 - 4.18), compared with those aged 15 - 19 years. Women who were currently in a union/living with a man (aOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.41 - 2.43) or formerly in a union/living with a man (aOR 2.66, 95% CI 1.64 - 4.29), compared with those who had never been in a union, had higher odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Contrarily, adverse pregnancy outcomes were lower with each additional child delivered or ever born (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58 - 0.75). Conclusions. We report a high prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes among women of reproductive age in South Africa. We recommend addressing factors such as maternal age and currently/formerly living with a man within interventions to reduce the burden of adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa. https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/1241adverse pregnancy outcomesprevalenceassociated factorsDHSSouth Africa |
| spellingShingle | L Mpolokeng A Musekiwa Prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa: Evidence from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey South African Medical Journal adverse pregnancy outcomes prevalence associated factors DHS South Africa |
| title | Prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa: Evidence from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey |
| title_full | Prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa: Evidence from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa: Evidence from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa: Evidence from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey |
| title_short | Prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa: Evidence from the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey |
| title_sort | prevalence and factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in south africa evidence from the 2016 demographic and health survey |
| topic | adverse pregnancy outcomes prevalence associated factors DHS South Africa |
| url | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/1241 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lmpolokeng prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithadversepregnancyoutcomesinsouthafricaevidencefromthe2016demographicandhealthsurvey AT amusekiwa prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithadversepregnancyoutcomesinsouthafricaevidencefromthe2016demographicandhealthsurvey |