The Effect of High Parity on the Occurrence of Anaemia in Pregnant Women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare high-para and low-para women with respect to haematological findings, determinants, and consequences secondary to anaemia. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive cohort study. Place and Duration of the Study: Maternity and Child Hospital, Hail, Saudi Arabia and Specialist Care Hospital (private), Islamabad, Pakistan, from April 2022 to April 2023. METHODOLOGY: The study population comprised of pregnant women in the last trimester, with the exception of those women who had more than one fetus and history of haematological disease. Purposive non-probability sampling technique was adopted. Hospital data were retrieved retrospectively for the past obstetrical, contraception usage, and supplement history. Blood parameters, type of delivery, and maternofetal complications were noted down. For qualitative-variable and quantitative-variable comparisons, Chi-square test and t-test were applied, respectively. Significance level was kept at p ≤0.05. RESULTS: The frequency of severe anaemia in high-para was 52%. High parity and anaemia had a significant dose-response relationship (p <0.05). There was a significant difference (p <0.05) in blood parameters between high-para and low-para groups. Main determinants identified for anaemia were lack of intake of iron-rich food (36%) followed by inadequate intake of oral iron (25%). Preterm birth (68%) and post-partum haemorrhage (96%) were significantly associated (p <0.05) with high parity. There was a significantly high proportion (83%) of high-para women with more than 3 cesarean deliveries and admissions in ICU. CONCLUSION: High parity and anaemia had a significant dose-response relationship. High parity was the main determinant of maternal and fetal admissions in ICU. KEY WORDS: Parity, Comparison, Maternal anaemia, Haematological findings, Diet, Contraception, Cost-effective.

Role of Parity and Age in Cesarean Section Rate among Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Hail, Saudi Arabia.

In the context of the global increase in the rate of cesarean deliveries, with an associated higher morbidity and mortality, this study aimed to investigate the role of maternal age and parity in the cesarean section rate among women in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia. This retrospective cohort study used data collected from the labor ward of the Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Hail, over a period of 8 months, forming a cohort of 500 women. Women were categorized into four different parity classes. The results revealed that there was no significant relationship between cesarean deliveries and maternal age (p-value, 0.07). There was no significant difference in the mode of delivery between the study's parity cohort group. A significant increase in cesarean deliveries was noticed among obese women with a BMI between 35-39.9 (52.14%). This increase was even greater among those with a BMI above 40 (63.83%). Fetal distress, malpresentation and abruptio placenta were the most significant indications for CS among all age groups (p-value 0.000, 0.021, and 0.048, respectively). Conclusions: The number of cesarean deliveries has no association with parity or age. However, there was a statistically significant association with BMI, a perineal tear after previous vaginal delivery, and a history of diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes. The most reported reasons for CS were fetal distress, malpresentation, and abruptio placenta among all age groups.

Comparison of Fetomaternal Complications in Women of High Parity with Women of Low Parity among Saudi Women.

High parity is associated with the risk of fetomaternal complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders, maternal anemia, preterm labor, miscarriage, postpartum hemorrhage, and perinatal and preterm mortality. The objective of the study was to compare fetomaternal complications in women of high parity with women of low parity. This involved a cohort study on a sample size of 500 women who had singleton births. Data were collected from the Maternity and Child Hospital, Ha'il, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Participants were classified into two groups according to parity, i.e., women of low parity and women of high parity. Socio-demographic data and pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, etc., were retrieved from participants' files. Participants were followed in the postnatal ward until their discharge. The results revealed that women of high parity mostly (49%) were married before 20 years of age, less educated, obese, and were of un-booked cases. Premature babies and fetal mortality are significantly high (0.000) in this group. There is a significant difference between the two groups with respect to maternal anemia, gestational diabetes mellitus, joint pain, perineal tear, miscarriage, postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia, vaginal tear, and cesarean section. Determinants responsible for high parity should be identified via evidence-based medicine. Public health education programs targeting couples, weight control, nutrition, and contraception would be a cost-effective strategy for reducing the risk of possible fetomaternal complications.

Combined' Neck/Back Pain and Psychological Distress/Morbidity Among the Saudi Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Psychological distress/morbidity is amongst the primary reason for the cause of pain at multiple sites, its progression, and recovery. Though still not very clear if physical pain in the neck or the back may predict psychological morbidities or not. Thus, we investigated the association between combined neck or back pain and psychological distress/morbidity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, including 1,003 individuals. The questionnaire comprised of General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and some questions about neck and back pain. Data analysis was done using statistical software SPSS version 26.0. Results: The results of the multivariate analysis revealed a significant positive association between neck/back pain status and total GHQ score (unstandardized Beta = 2.442, P ≤ 0.0001). Having neck/back pain had almost a 2.5 times greater risk of psychological distress/morbidity. Further, females were more likely to have a higher risk of psychological distress/morbidity (unstandardized Beta = 1.334, P = 0.007) than males while adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Conclusion: The combination of neck and back pain was significantly associated with the Saudi population's psychological problems. Therefore, the Saudi government needs to devise high-risk strategies and allocate adequate resources to the cause so that at-risk people can be shielded from the adverse complications arising from this condition in the long run.