ROLE OF EARLY PRENATAL SCREENINGS IN THE PREVENTION OF ADVERSE PERINATAL OUTCOMES

Abstract

Early identification of pregnancies at risk for preeclampsia and other adverse perinatal outcomes is essential for improving maternal and neonatal health. This study evaluated the performance of an integrated first-trimester screening strategy combining maternal clinical characteristics, biophysical parameters, and biochemical biomarkers using a mixed-methods experimental design. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that screening models based solely on maternal factors exhibited moderate predictive capacity, whereas the sequential incorporation of mean arterial pressure, uterine artery Doppler indices, placental growth factor, and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio significantly enhanced model discrimination and calibration. Fully integrated Bayesian models achieved the highest predictive performance, characterized by reduced variance, improved sensitivity for early-onset and preterm preeclampsia, and lower false-positive rates compared with isolated predictors. Visualization of multidimensional performance metrics confirmed progressive convergence and stabilization of predictive outputs as multimodal fusion increased. Qualitative findings supported the clinical feasibility and acceptability of implementing such integrated screening pathways in routine antenatal care. Collectively, the results demonstrate that first-trimester multimodal screening provides a robust and clinically actionable approach for early risk stratification, enabling timely preventive interventions and supporting the transition toward personalized, prevention-focused prenatal care.