RESUMO
Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of the adverse pregnancy outcomes among Jordanian women
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in five major hospitals in the north of Jordan. Women who gave birth in the five Hospitals during the period from April to June 2007 were included in the study. Data were collected within 24 hours of delivery; the mother answered a pilot tested structured questionnaire administered by trained personnel on the maternity ward through face to face interview, which lasted for 10 to 15 minutes
Result: This study included a total of 3,269 women. More than half of them [57%] were living in urban areas, and 41.3% had an education of higher than high school. Only 1% gave birth to a very low birth weight baby and 10.9% gave birth to a moderately low birth weight baby. The prevalence of low birth weight baby was the highest for women aged above 40 years. Only 1.4% gave stillbirth with the rate being the lowest for those aged between 20 and 34 years. Prevalence of giving birth with any congenital anomaly was more evident for the oldest age group where about 40% of cases occurred among women aged above 40 years
Conclusions: Adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm delivery, low birth weight delivery, congenital anomalies, and stillbirth are common among Jordanian women compared with those in developed countries. Older women [age > 40] are at high risk of such adverse pregnancy outcomes