Prevalence and Risk Factors of Pregnancy Loss in Malaysia

The aim of this paper is to study the prevalence and risk factors of pregnancy loss due to miscarriage and stillbirth among mothers aged 15 to 49 years in Malaysia. The data used was obtained from the Fourth Malaysian Population and Family Survey (MPFS-4), which was carried out in 2004. This paper analysed 13,312 pregnancies among 3,534 mothers that ended in live birth or stillbirth and miscarriage which has been grouped together as non-live birth. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to compare risks of non-live births relative to the live births. The results showed that mothers’ birth cohort, age at first marriage, pregnancy order, and previous non-live births have significant effects on the incidence of non-live births among them. It was found that the likelihood of non-live births increased with age at first marriage, pregnancy order, and previous non-live births. In addition, those born in 1970 or later have more risk of non-live births as compared to those were born before. Little has been known about the causes of pregnancy loss due to miscarriage and stillbirth in Malaysia. It is time to start understand the true nature of this condition. Through the provision of cause-oriented treatment by the medical doctors, it is hoped that many couples will be able to achieve intended live births.