Spontaneous Abortions in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy: Research and Analysis of Factors Associated at Laquintinie Hospital in Douala

Abstract

Introduction: Spontaneous abortion of the second trimester is an interruption of pregnancy with complete expulsion or not of the product of conception between 15 and 28 weeks of pregnancy without any maneuvers. The objective of our study was to determine the factors associated with second trimester spontaneous abortions at Laquintinie Hospital in Douala. Methodology for this purpose: We conducted a case-control study from January to May 2019 on pregnant women who may or may not have had spontaneous second trimester abortions. Results: In total we recorded 1609 pregnancies and recruited 184 patients, including 46 cases and 138 controls; which gave a frequency of spontaneous abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy of 2.85%. A correlative analysis showed that spontaneous abortions in the second trimester were associated with housewife status (OR = 2.89; CI = 1.21 - 6.79; p = 0.010), gestation > 5 (OR = 4.09; CI = 1.02 - 17.66; p = 0.040), multiparity (OR = 3.81; CI = 1.59 - 9.16; p = 0.002), history of endouterine maneuvers (OR = 5.64; CI = 2.43 - 13 .03; p = 0.000), malaria in pregnancy (OR = 3.99; CI = 1.1 - 14.76; p = 0.030), incompleteness on the second trimester ultrasound (OR = 2.37; CI = 1.18 - 4.70; p = 0.010), jolts when traveling (OR = 46.04; CI = 17.29 - 123.66; p = 0.000), long car journeys (OR = 7.05; CI = 1.99 - 27.77; p = 0.000). After logistic regression eliminating the confounding factors, only the following were associated with abortions: Multiparity (OR = 13.90; CI = 2.96 - 65.18; p = 0.000), endo uterine maneuvers (OR = 3.69; CI = 1. 01 - 13.44; p = 0.047), jolts when traveling (OR = 72.63; CI = 19.47 - 270.96; p = 0.000), long car journeys (OR = 15.41; CI = 2.7 - 85, 95; p = 0.000). Conclusion: Our study reveals that a set of factors contribute to the occurrence of spontaneous abortions in the second trimester of pregnancy in our context.