Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Placenta Previa In Women Undergoing Cesarean Section: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Placenta previa remains a clinically significant obstetric complication, particularly among women undergoing cesarean section. This cross-sectional study examined 268 cesarean deliveries across three general hospitals in the Jazan region between January and July 2023. The prevalence of placenta previa was found to be 33.6%, markedly higher than global averages. Risk factors were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression, revealing significant associations with ≥2 previous cesarean sections, obesity (BMI ≥30), parity ≥3, anterior placental location, and history of uterine surgery. Anterior placenta was more prevalent (62.2%) and correlated with increased surgical history and higher maternal BMI. The adjusted odds ratios confirmed ≥2 prior cesareans (AOR 3.42) and BMI ≥30 (AOR 2.76) as the strongest predictors. ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 0.81, indicating good model performance. These findings underscore the need for targeted antenatal surveillance in high-risk populations and suggest that anterior implantation may signal cumulative uterine remodeling due to prior obstetric events.