Association between maternal religious service attendance and pregnancy loss in the United States: a secondary analysis of the Future Families & Child Wellbeing Study

Abstract

Background. Accumulating evidence suggests that spirituality and religiosity may be associated with improved health outcomes. However, few studies have examined maternal religiosity as a protective factor for perinatal outcomes. We explored the association between maternal religious attendance and pregnancy loss. Methods. Data were drawn from the Future Families & Child Wellbeing Study’s first and second waves and medical records (n=1874). Religious attendance was a self-reported response to the question “About how often do you attend religious services?” Pregnancy loss was measured from responses to the second wave survey question, “Since focal child’s birth, have you had any miscarriages/abortions/stillbirths?” Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between maternal religious attendance frequency and pregnancy loss, overall and by race. Models were adjusted for sampling weights, religious preference, socioeconomic and behavioral factors. Results. 8% (n=164) of mothers reported having a pregnancy loss. Of those with a pregnancy loss, 28% (n=46) attended services hardly ever and 20% (n=20) attended services once a week or more. Women who attended services more frequently had 58% increased odds of not experiencing a pregnancy loss (OR:1.58;95%CI:1.01,2.48) after adjusting for potential confounding. A post hoc analysis found no difference in pregnancy loss type or subsequent reproductive history based on attendance level. Conclusions. Results suggest that higher maternal religious attendance frequency may be a protective factor for pregnancy loss. Further research is needed to understand the association between maternal religious attendance and mechanisms for pregnancy loss.