Maternal Complications Experienced by Pregnant Women Residing in Traditional Gold Mining Areas in El-Obeid, Sudan

Nawal Ali Ahmed Mohamed^{1, 2,} , Manahil Ibrahim Ismail Shogar³, Hala Ibrahim Mohammed³, Ahmed Abdelkerim Ahmed Abdallah^{1, 4}, Mohammed Adam Mohammed Ali1^{5, 6} and Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed^{7, 8}

¹Ministry of Health, El-Obeid Obstetrics and Gynecology teaching Hospital, El-Obeid, Sudan.

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kordofan, NK, El-Obeid, Sudan.;Shikan College El-Obeid, Sudan.;Arous Elrimal Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Laparoscopy Surgery Clinic, El-Obeid, Sudan.

³2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kordofan, El-Obeid, Sudan.

⁴Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kordofan, NK, El-Obeid, Sudan.;Alfayhaa Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Laparoscopy Surgery Clinic, El-Obeid, Sudan.

⁵Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kordofan, NK, El-Obeid, Sudan.

⁶Arous Elrimal Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Laparoscopy Surgery Clinic, El-Obeid, Sudan.

⁷Prof Medical Research Consultancy Center- MRCC, El-Obeid, Sudan.

⁸Department of Histopathology and Cytology, FMLS, University of Khartoum, Sudan

Cite this paper:
Nawal Ali Ahmed Mohamed, Manahil Ibrahim Ismail Shogar, Hala Ibrahim Mohammed, Ahmed Abdelkerim Ahmed Abdallah, Mohammed Adam Mohammed Ali1 and Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed. Maternal Complications Experienced by Pregnant Women Residing in Traditional Gold Mining Areas in El-Obeid, Sudan. American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine. 2024; 12(2):41-45. doi: 10.12691/ajmsm-12-2-3

Abstract

Background: Using heavy metals in artisanal gold mining can harm pregnant women and their fetuses. This study investigated maternal problems in pregnant women in Sudan's traditional gold mining areas. Methodology: This study is a retrospective case-control study conducted at El-Obied Obstetrics and Gynecology teaching hospital. The study comprised a total of 300 participants, with 152 women recruited from traditional gold mining areas as the case group, and another 152 women from non-gold mining areas as the control group. The data was obtained from the hospital records spanning from January 2018 to December 2023. Results: Most cases (65.7%) and controls (63.8%) were multiparous and rural (67.1%). Cases averaged 34 weeks gestational age at presentation, hence, controls 32 weeks, with a range of 8 to 42 weeks. About 63.1% of the cases and 54.4% of the controls were 37–42 weeks pregnant. The cases had 39.4% emergency caesarean section compared to 34.3% in the control group. Around 39.4% of cases returned home in good condition, compared to 61.8% of controls. Approximately, 44% of the cases individuals needed a lengthier hospital stay, compared to 20.3% of control group participants. About 9% of both groups received blood transfusions. Among those who evacuated returned products, 3.9% were cases and 1.9% controls. Conclusion: Traditional gold mining in Sudan poses significant health risks to humans, particularly to pregnant women. Community intervention is necessary to safeguard individuals in traditional gold mining regions, with a special focus on pregnant women.

Keywords:
traditional gold mining pregnancy maternal complications

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Liu H, Li Z, Xie L, Jing G, Liang W, He J, Dang Y. The Relationship Between Heavy Metals and Missed Abortion: Using Mediation of Serum Hormones. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2023.
[2]	He J, Pu Y, Du Y, Liu H, Wang X, He S, Ai S, Dang Y. An exploratory study on the association of multiple metals in serum with preeclampsia. Front Public Health. 2024; 12: 1336188.
[3]	Shen L, Liang C, Li D, Zhang Z, Wang X, Jiang T, Su X, Yin T, Zou W, Wang X, Liu Y, Liang D, Wei Z, Cao Y, Ji D. The association between exposure to multiple toxic metals and the risk of endometriosis: Evidence from the results of blood and follicular fluid. Sci Total Environ. 2023; 855: 158882.
[4]	Chamani S, Mobasheri L, Rostami Z, Zare I, Naghizadeh A, Mostafavi E. Heavy metals in contact dermatitis: A review. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2023; 79: 127240.
[5]	Parida L, Patel TN. Systemic impact of heavy metals and their role in cancer development: a review. Environ Monit Assess. 2023; 195(6): 766.
[6]	Eaves LA, Choi G, Hall E, Sillé FCM, Fry RC, Buckley JP, Keil AP. Prenatal Exposure to Toxic Metals and Neural Tube Defects: A Systematic Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence. Environ Health Perspect. 2023; 131(8): 86002.
[7]	Zinia SS, Yang KH, Lee EJ, Lim MN, Kim J, Kim WJ; Ko-CHENS Study group. Effects of heavy metal exposure during pregnancy on birth outcomes. Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1): 18990.
[8]	Berky AJ, Weinhouse C, Vissoci J, Rivera N, Ortiz EJ, Navio S, Miranda JJ, Mallipudi A, Fixen E, Hsu-Kim H, Pan WK. In Utero Exposure to Metals and Birth Outcomes in an Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Birth Cohort in Madre de Dios, Peru. Environ Health Perspect. 2023; 131(9): 97008.
[9]	Adam KhM, Abdaltam SA, Noreldeen AM, Alseed WA, Relationship between Maternal Blood Lead, Cadmium, and Zinc Levels and Spontaneous Abortion in Sudanese Women, Public Health Research 2015; 5 (6): 171-176.
[10]	Mohamed AA, Mohammed Ahmed AA, Osman OA, Ebrahim EHM, Ahmed SAH, Mohamed EBS, Abibdall II, Ibrahim AMH, Mohmed EAH, Ismail MEB, Abogooda AE, Masroub AAD, Ahmed HG. Common motives of admission of pregnant ladies from traditionally gold mining areas in Sudan. Medical Research Updates 2024; 2(1): 10-22.
[11]	Ali M, Elhagwa A, Elfaki J. An investigation of mercury distribution in the soils around gold mining area at Dar-Mali locality, river Nile State, Sudan. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 2018; 7(4), 365-372.
[12]	Michael, T., Kohn, E., Daniel, S. et al. Prenatal exposure to heavy metal mixtures and anthropometric birth outcomes: a cross-sectional study. Environ Health 2022; 21: 139.
[13]	Amadi CN, Igweze ZN, Orisakwe OE, Heavy metals in miscarriages and stillbirths in developing nations Middle East Fertility Society Journal 2017; 22(2): 91-100.