Pregnancies Outcome after Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Multicenter Case Control Study in a Low Income Setting Douala, Cameroon

Abstract

The objective was to assess the outcome of pregnancies after assisted reproductive technology (ART). It was a case-control study carried out in four health facilities in Douala-Cameroon, over a period of five years. The cases were pregnant women who conceived through ART and the controls were those who conceived naturally. Cases and controls were matched for maternal age and parity (one case for two controls). A logistic regression analysis was used to compute Odds ratios. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. A total of 174 women who conceived through ART and 348 who conceived naturally were enrolled. Some independent factors associated with ART were: age over 45 years [aOR: 7.55; 95% CI (1.55 -36.76); p: 0.01], twin pregnancies [aOR: 16.55; 95% CI (7.91 -34.60); p < 0.01], Cervical cerclage [aOR: 3.04; 95% CI (1.23 -7.50); p: 0.01], miscarriages [aOR: 11.73; 95% CI (5.07 -27.10); p: 0.01], elective cesarean section [aOR: 4.63; 95% CI (2.27 -9.45); p: 0.01] and low birth weight [aOR: 3.32; 95% CI (1.90 -5.82); p < 0.01]. Women who conceived by ART were older with higher rates of multiple pregnancy and complications. We recommend transfer of a single embryo.