PREVALENCE OF MISSED ABORTION AMONG CLIENTS RECEIVING ABORTION CARE ATTENDING MICHU CLINIC, SAINT PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE, ETHIOPIA: CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Abstract Background: Missed abortion, defined as fetal death without spontaneous expulsion before 20 weeks of gestation, is a common complication in early pregnancy. Often asymptomatic, it may delay diagnosis and increase maternal risks, including infection. Globally, it affects 10–20% of clinically recognized pregnancies, but data in Ethiopia—particularly among women seeking abortion care—are scarce, revealing a critical knowledge gap. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence of missed abortion among clients at Michu Clinic, Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, through a one-year medical record review. Descriptive statistics and will assess the prevalence . Findings are expected to inform earlier detection, improve clinical management, and strengthen maternal healthcare services in Ethiopia. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of missed abortion among patients receiving abortion care at Michu Clinic, Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College. Methods: The study used a facility-based cross-sectional design at Michu Clinic, SPHMMC, with systematic random sampling to select 256 participants. Data was collected from medical records and clinic logbooks with diagnoses confirmed by clinical and ultrasound findings. This design is practical for estimating prevalence in a defined period, though reliance on retrospective records may introduce bias. Data is analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics. Ethical safeguards include informed consent, confidentiality, and IRB approval. While the cross sectional approach limits causal inference and generalizability, it is appropriate for producing baseline data on missed abortion to inform clinical practice and policy in similar settings. Results: Out of 212 clients, 51 had missed abortion, giving a prevalence of 24.06%, while 161 (75.94%) had other outcomes. Most missed abortion cases were in the 26–30 year age group (41.18%), followed by 21–25 and 31–35 years (23.53% each), with fewer cases in ≤20 and 36 40 years (5.88% each). Slightly more cases were from urban areas (52.94%) than rural (47.06%). 8 The highest proportion occurred in women with parity 2 (35.29%), and most cases were seen at 13–16 weeks gestation (35.29%), followed by 17–20 weeks (29.41%), ≤8 weeks (23.53%), and 9–12 weeks (11.76%). Overall, medical management was most common (69.81%) compared to surgical evacuation (30.19%), with no expectant management or recorded complications (0%). Conclusion: This study found that missed abortion accounted for 24.06% of all abortion-related cases, with most cases occurring in women aged 26–30 years and peaking at 13–16 weeks of gestation. This pattern suggests possible delayed or asymptomatic diagnosis during the early second trimester, highlighting the importance of timely ultrasound monitoring in prenatal care. Medical management was the most common and was associated with no reported complications, indicating it is a safe and effective treatment option. Overall, the findings emphasize the need for continued vigilance in early detection while supporting the effectiveness of current management practices. Keyword: Missed abortion; Prevalence; Abortion care; Ethiopia; Early pregnancy loss; Reproductive health.