Placenta Previa and its associated Factors among Women Admitted with Antepartum Haemorrhage in Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia

Background: Placenta previa is one of the causes of antepartum hemorrhage. It contributes to maternal death. Hence, this study assessed the magnitude of placenta previa and its associated factors among women admitted with antepartum hemorrhage at Hawassa University comprehensive specialized hospital. Methods: A facility-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 pregnant women admitted with antepartum hemorrhage at Hawassa University comprehensive specialized hospital. A simple random sample technique was used to select a woman’s charts.  Data were collected using a pre-tested checklist. Data were analyzed using statistical software. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to identify the factors associated with placenta previa. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of placenta previa among mothers with antepartum hemorrhage was 60.3% (95% CI: 57.8, 62.4). The major adverse maternal outcomes identified were cesarean delivery 175 (96.4%), hypovolemic shock 82(45.3%), and blood transfusion 92(50.8%). Those mothers with gravidity of 2-4 (AOR=3.40; 95% CI: 1.39,8.31) and >5 ( AOR=5.67; 95% CI: 2.11,15.20), gestational age of 28-33 weeks (AOR=3.83; 95% CI: 1.77, 4.65), 34-36 weeks (AOR=2.45; 95% CI: 1.30, 4.56), having previous caesarean section scar (AOR=3.27; 95% CI: 1.26, 8.50), and having  a male fetus gestation (AOR=3.49; 95% CI: 1.26, 8.50) had a more likelihood of developing pla­centa previa than their counterparts. Conclusion: About two-thirds of the cases admitted with the diagnosis of antepartum hemorrhage were caused by placenta previa. Previous cesarean section, gravidity, male sex, and gestational age were the factors identified for placenta previa. Efforts should be made to reduce the rate of pregnancy and cesarean delivery through improving the provision of family planning to decrease the magnitude of placenta previa. Keywords: Hawassa, placenta previa, Southern Ethiopia