Determinants of Pre-Eclampsia Incidence among Pregnant Women in Antenatal Care at Fortportal Regional Referral Hospital

Abstract

Pre-eclampsia stands as a major contributor to maternal mortality, perinatal complications, preterm births, and restricted fetal growth. Globally, it ranks among the top three causes of maternal mortality and affects 6-8% of pregnancies, contributing to approximately nine percent of maternal deaths in Africa. This study aimed to identify factors linked to preeclampsia prevalence among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at Fortportal Regional Referral Hospital. Conducting a hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 60 pregnant women, data collection employed a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis with SPSS version 25 determined Odds Ratios with 95% confidence intervals, marking significance at p values <0.05. Findings revealed several significant associations. Sociodemographic factors like lower maternal age, limited education, and reduced income were linked to pre-eclampsia, alongside obstetric factors including lower parity (≤ 4), overweight status, a history of gestational diabetes mellitus, shorter interpregnancy intervals (≤ 2 years), and previous diagnoses of gestational hypertension. The study underscores the critical need for urgent interventions in the district to address these identified risk factors and prevent and manage pre-eclampsia effectively among pregnant women attending Fortportal Regional Referral Hospital. Both socio-economic and obstetric factors significantly contribute to the occurrence of pre-eclampsia, necessitating targeted interventions for improved maternal and fetal health outcomes. Keywords: prevalence, pre-eclampsia, pregnant women, antenatal care