Abstract:
Background: Maternal perception of decreased fetal movement is a common complaint, and one
of the most frequent causes of unplanned visits that affects up to 15% of pregnancies. Not
enough emphasis is placed on the risk factors for reduced fetal movement despite their higher
association with maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Identifying the determinant factors
for reduced fetal movement could help reduce maternal and fetal complications by providing
close follow up for those at risk. Therefore, this study aims to identify the determinants of
reduced fetal movements.
Methods: An unmatched case control study was conducted from March-May, 2021 among 129
(43 cases and 86 controls) pregnant women who followed up at North Shoa Zone Government
Hospitals. Face to face interview with structured questionnaire and chart review were used for
data collection. Cases were selected via consecutive sampling method, and controls were
selected by systematic random sampling technique. The collected data was entered, cleaned,
coded and checked by using Epi-Data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 23 for data
analysis. Binary logistic analysis was executed and all variables with p-value <0.2 was entered
into multivariable logistic regression. Finally, multivariable logistic regression analysis was used
to identify independent predictors of reduced fetal movement. P-value of less than 0.05 at 95%
CI was considered as cutoff point to declare a statistically significant association.
Result: Post term pregnancy (AOR = 5.48, 95% CI=1.12-26.76), Preeclampsia/eclampsia (AOR
=4.90, 95% CI= 1.64-14.67), Oligohydramnios (AOR= 4.71, 95% CI= 1.27-17.48), Primi
gravida (AOR =4.31, 95% CI=1.38-13.45), and Anemia (AOR= 4.04, 95% CI= 1.07 -15.34)
were found to be significantly associated factors of reduced fetal movement.
Conclusion: The determinants of reduced fetal movements were post term pregnancy,
preeclampsia/eclampsia, oligohydramnios, prim gravida and anemia.
