Pregnancy loss and its predictors among ever-pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa: Multilevel mixed effect negative binomial regression

The findings indicate that there are three pregnancy losses among ever-pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Notably, a one-year increase in maternal age and higher education levels for both mothers and their partners are linked to an increased risk of pregnancy loss. In contrast, mothers with multiple children generally experience lower rates of loss. Therefore, policy interventions should address the heightened risk of pregnancy loss linked to advancing maternal age and higher education levels for both mothers and their partners. This can be achieved by supporting programs that educate prospective parents about the effects of maternal age on pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, promoting flexible educational pathways and providing career support can encourage healthier timing for pregnancies. Additionally, initiatives that support families and promote larger family sizes may help reduce pregnancy loss rates in Sub-Saharan Africa.