International Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Introduction: Bad obstetric history (BOH) is a major concern in obstetrics, often resulting from infections, genetic, anatomical, immunological, or endocrine factors. Among infectious causes, TORCH infections Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes simplex virus (HSV) play a significant role in adverse pregnancy outcomes such as spontaneous abortions, intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), congenital anomalies, and fetal growth restriction (FGR). Early detection through serological testing is crucial for risk assessment and preventive management.

Aims: To determine the seroprevalence of TORCH infections among antenatal women with a bad obstetric history. To evaluate the association of TORCH seropositivity with feto-maternal outcomes in the current pregnancy.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. The study included 109 antenatal women with a history of bad obstetric outcomes, selected from both outpatient (OPD) and inpatient antenatal cases attending GMCH Nagpur.

Results: In this cross-sectional study of 109 antenatal women with a bad obstetric history, the majority were aged 19-30 years, and most husbands had completed higher secondary or undergraduate education. A large proportion of women belonged to the lower middle socioeconomic class. Regarding pregnancy outcomes, most had a term delivery (73.39%), followed by smaller proportions with FGR, preterm, or adverse outcomes such as abortion and IUFD. Analysis of viral markers revealed that Rubella IgG and CMV IgG seropositivity were significantly associated with a higher rate of LSCS (p < 0.001), while Toxoplasma and HSV IgG showed no significant association with the mode of delivery.

Conclusion: TORCH infections contribute substantially to adverse obstetric outcomes among women with BOH. Routine TORCH screening in high-risk antenatal women can aid in early diagnosis, appropriate counselling, and timely intervention to improve pregnancy outcomes.