A recent study, described as the first of its kind in Australia, has shed light on the prevalence of miscarriage. Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicates that three in ten women who gave birth in 2022 had previously experienced a miscarriage, defined as pregnancy loss before 20 weeks’ gestation. Furthermore, one in ten had experienced two or more.
The study, which utilised existing surveys and clinical registries, has been welcomed for improving understanding of early pregnancy loss. However, experts have raised concerns that the data may not adequately capture large groups of women, particularly those from multicultural backgrounds. There is currently no requirement for doctors to report miscarriages, meaning comprehensive data is not routinely collected.
Dr Fatima El-Assaad, founder of The Still Nest, a platform supporting diverse families, suggests that cultural and religious practices can lead to a reluctance to discuss miscarriage, potentially contributing to underrepresentation in data. She also questions the methodology of data collection, including language accessibility and the environment in which surveys are conducted, as factors that could lead to gaps and inaccuracies.