The relationship of digestive system diseases in pregnant women with stillbirth and neonatal death in Iran: A population-based case–control study

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Background: The most important digestive system diseases implicated in pregnant mothers' stillbirth and neonatal death include large intestine diseases, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach problems. This study aimed to determine the relationship between digestive system diseases in pregnant women and stillbirth and neonatal death. Methods: This population-based case-control study was conducted on 3573 mothers (1223 mothers experiencing stillbirth, 1091 mothers with neonatal death, and 1259 mothers with live births) in 10 provinces of Iran. The study data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 461 pregnant women (12.9%) suffered from digestive system diseases before the last pregnancy among whom 171 women (14.1%) experienced stillbirth, 149 (13.7%) reported neonatal deaths, and 141 women (11.2%) were in the control group. The results showed that the women with digestive system diseases were more likely (32%) to experience stillbirth when compared to those with no digestive system diseases (odds ratio [OR]: 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.008 − 1.74]). Neonatal mortality was also higher (58%) among the mothers with digestive system diseases as compared to the control group (OR: 1.58, 95% CI [1.19 − 2.09]). Conclusion: Pregnant mothers with digestive system diseases were exposed to higher risks of severe prenatal consequences. The odds of stillbirth and neonatal death, were, respectively, 0.32 and 0.58 times higher in the pregnant mothers affected by digestive system diseases than those without such problems. This shows the undesirable effects of digestive system diseases on the fetus. Mothers' knowledge of appropriate nutrition and digestive system diseases has to be improved to prevent these consequences.