Common motives of admission of pregnant ladies from traditionally gold mining areas in Sudan

Background: Metallic elements play a vital role in the health of both the fetus and the mother. This study aimed to identify the primary reasons for admitting pregnant women from regions in Sudan where primitive gold mining is prevalent. Methodology: Between January 2018 and December 2023, this descriptive retrospective hospital-based study was conducted at El-Obeid Obstetrics and Gynecology Teaching Hospital. All information regarding the participants in the study was extracted from hospital records. Results: The leading causes of hospital admission for the majority of patients were prior scarring, labor, MEM&PIHE, and PPROM (representing 26%, 11%, 9%, and 5%, respectively). Patients originating from rural areas exhibited the highest prevalence rates of PIHE, PP, PPROM, PS, and anemia, accounting for 87.5%, 83.3%, 75%, and 61.5%, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that primitive gold mining affects pregnant women in several ways that require community-level intervention. As mining expands rapidly across the nation without safety protocols, more research is needed to determine these individuals' exposure levels.