Prevalence of, and Factors Associated with Thyroid Dysfunction among women with First Trimester Spontaneous Abortion at a Tertiary Hospital, Southwestern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
Sadia Hassan Mohammed¹, Julius Businge¹*, Mathiang Agany Akol¹, Hani Omar Wehlie¹, Caxton Kakama¹, Samiro Yusuf¹, Stuart Turanzomwe¹, Kayondo Musa¹, Bawakanya Stephen Mayanja² and Joseph Ngonzi¹
¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
*Corresponding Author: Julius Businge, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
DOI: 10.64258/3070-9792.2025.104005
Submission Date: October 31, 2025
Published Date: December 8, 2025
Download PDFBackground: Endocrine disorders, including thyroid dysfunction, remain a common cause of first-trimester abortions worldwide. Evidence suggests that early identification and management of these disorders can significantly improve pregnancy outcomes. Despite the high burden of first-trimester abortions at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), routine screening for underlying causes is not consistently performed. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and its associated factors among women with first-trimester spontaneous abortions admitted to the gynaecological ward at MRRH.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 146 women with first-trimester spontaneous abortions admitted at MRRH between August 2023 and January 2024. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and blood samples were obtained for thyroid function tests, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4). The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was calculated as the proportion of women diagnosed with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism among the total participants. Modified Poisson regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with thyroid dysfunction.
Results: A total of 146 women were enrolled, with a mean age of 26.42 (±5.35) years. The majority were aged 20–34 years (80.1%), were beyond 7 weeks of gestation (82.9%), and 12.3% had a history of recurrent abortion. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction at MRRH was 12.3% (95% CI: 7.9–18.8). The most common thyroid disorders were subclinical hypothyroidism (44.4%) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (38.9%). Multivariable analysis showed that gestational age less than 7 weeks (aPR 3.05, 95% CI: 1.40–6.62) and the presence of thyroid swelling (aPR 3.46, 95% CI: 1.45–8.26) were significantly associated with thyroid dysfunction.
Conclusion: Approximately one in ten women with first-trimester spontaneous abortion at MRRH has thyroid dysfunction, with subclinical hypothyroidism being the most common disorder. Women presenting with pregnancy loss before 7 weeks of gestation and those with thyroid swelling are at increased risk. Routine screening for thyroid dysfunction should be emphasized among women with first-trimester spontaneous abortions at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital to improve clinical outcomes.
Thyroid dysfunction, First trimester, spontaneous Pregnancy loss
Sadia HM, Julius B, Mathiang AA, Hani OW, Caxton K, et al. (2025) Prevalence of, and Factors Associated with Thyroid Dysfunction among women with First Trimester Spontaneous Abortion at a Tertiary Hospital, Southwestern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study. Gynecol & Women’s Health: Open Access 1(1): 1-15.