A Study to Assess the Incidence of High risk Pregnancy among Antenatal Women

Abstract

Most of the time having a baby is a natural process. After a full term pregnancy, women go into labour on or near their due date and give birth to a healthy baby. But not all pregnancy goes smoothly. Some of them have certain factors which affects mother, developing fetus or both at a higher than normal risk for pregnancy. Therefore, the present study assessed the incidence of high risk pregnancy among antenatal women using descriptive design. The objectives of the study were to assess the incidence of high risk pregnancy and to find the association between incidence of high risk pregnancy and selected sample characteristics. The data were collected from 200 conveniently selected antenatal women belonging to 20 to 38 week of gestation using modified Hobel’s risk assessment tool by interview technique and record analysis and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study revealed that, 51.5% of antenatal women had high risk pregnancy, 27% had low risk and 21.5% had no risk pregnancy and incidence of high risk pregnancy were more prevalent among 21 to 30 years of age 36.5%, graduates and above 35.5%, employed women 34%, multi gravida 31.5%, nullipara 28.5%, non consanguineous marriage 51%, and gestational age between 20 to 28 week 69%. Most identified risk factors among the sample were family history of diabetes 31%, family history of hypertension 28%, history of thyroid disease and repeated abortion 20.5%, history of gynecological problems 19%, history of previous cesarean 13% and vaginal spotting 12%. There was significant association between incidence of high risk pregnancy with gestational age (p=0.007) and gravida (p=0.003). The study concluded that assessment of all antenatal women using a simple and cost effective risk assessment tool which help the health care workers to early identification of high risk pregnancies and proper care can often result in a healthy mother and infant.