Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore the pattern of risk factors associated with high-risk pregnancies among Saudi women receiving care at the Maternity and Children’s Hospital (MCH) in Bisha, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This study included a total of 474 participants, who were selected using a simple random sampling technique from 4,203 deliveries recorded at the MCH in Bisha between January and December 2023. Data were collected retrospectively using a hospital-provided data collection sheet and the Morrison and Olsen High-Risk Pregnancy Scoring Inventory to identify high-risk cases.
Results: The analysis revealed a high burden of risk factors. A significant obstetric history was present in 67.9% of women, with a scarred uterus (43.5%) and a history of ≥3 abortions (12.4%) being the most common. Among current pregnancy complications, advanced maternal age (14.6%) and gestational diabetes (8.4%) were prominent. Pre-existing medical conditions were found in 61.2% of participants, including chronic hypertension (3.2%) and insulin-dependent diabetes (5.9%). Bivariate analysis identified significant associations between high-risk pregnancy and advanced maternal age, first-trimester booking, a scarred uterus, and vaginal bleeding (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of high-risk pregnancies among Saudi women in the Bisha region, influenced predominantly by obstetric history, advanced maternal age, and pre-existing medical conditions. The findings underscore the necessity of integrating robust risk screening into early prenatal care to facilitate timely interventions and improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Key words: Prevalence, patterns, risk factors, high-risk pregnancy, Saudi Arabia.