Determinants of pregnancy-induced hypertension on maternal and foetal outcomes in Hossana town administration, Hadiya zone, Southern Ethiopia: Unmatched case-control study

Pregnancy-Induced Hypertensive Disorders predictors among pregnant and delivery mothers receiving care in public health institutions in Sidama, Ethiopia: a multicenter case control study

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy-Induced Hypertensive Disorders (PIHD) include conditions like Pre-Eclampsia, Eclampsia, and Gestational Hypertension, impacting 5-10% of pregnancies globally. These disorders are responsible for 16% of maternal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa and account for 16.9% of maternal mortality in Ethiopia, representing 10% of the country's total maternal deaths.

OBJECTIVE

To identify predictors of PIHD among pregnant and delivery women in public hospitals and primary health care units (health centers) in Sidama, Ethiopia.

METHODS

A multi-center unmatched case-control study was conducted on women in antenatal care and obstetrics/gynecology departments at 12 randomly selected public health institutions, including one specialized teaching hospital, two general hospitals, three primary hospitals, and six health centers. The study involved 920 women (230 cases and 690 controls) selected from December 2023 to February 2024. Cases included pregnant or delivery women at 20 + weeks gestation with PIHD such as pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia. Controls were normotensive pregnant women or delivering mothers without PIHD after 20 weeks gestation. Data was manually verified, entered, and validated using Epidata software, followed by analysis with SPSS 22. Univariate analysis assessed predictors of PIHD, while binary logistic regression evaluated the relationships between factors. Model fitness was checked using collinearity assessments and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, with variables having a P value < 0.05 deemed independent predictors.

RESULTS

Out of 920 planned participants, 686 were included, resulting in a response rate of 94.35%. Factors associated with PIHD in women included age at first conception (AOR = 1.26), mid (AOR = 6.05) and high (AOR = 5.01) wealth index levels, multigravidity (AOR = 4.34), pregnancy age ≥ 42 weeks (AOR = 3.65), maternal mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (AOR = 1.29), hemoglobin levels of 6.5-10.9 g/dL (AOR = 5.59), pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/M2 (AOR = 0.81), preexisting hypertension (AOR = 8.97), family history of diabetes mellitus (AOR = 20.02), former alcohol consumption (AOR = 0.27), and total physical activity during pregnancy (AOR = 0.54).

CONCLUSIONS

The study identifies key predictors of PIHD in women, including age at conception, wealth index, multigravidity, gestational age, and pre-pregnancy BMI. It underscores the link between socioeconomic status and maternal health, highlighting that financial resources alone don't ensure better outcomes without educational access. The research advocates for a health intervention strategy focusing on socioeconomic factors and public health initiatives to reduce maternal health disparities while exploring the role of partner stability and psychosocial aspects.

Determinants of preeclampsia among women who gave birth at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia: a case-control study

Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are the second leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. It also results in high perinatal mortality and morbidity. Since eclampsia is preceded by preeclampsia and shows the progression of the disease, they share the same pathogenesis and determining factors. The purpose of this study was to determine determinants of preeclampsia, since it is essential for its prevention and/or its associated consequences. An unmatched case-control study was conducted from September 1-30, 2023 among women who gave birth from June 1, 2020, to August 31, 2023, at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital. Women who had preeclampsia were considered cases, while those without were controls. The sample size was calculated using EPI Info version 7 for a case-control study using the following assumptions: 95% confidence interval, power of 80%, case-to-control ratio of 1:2, and 5% non-response rate were 305. Data was collected using Google Form, and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Variables that had a p-value of < 0.05 on multivariable logistic regression were considered statistically significant, and their association was explained using an odds ratio at a 95% confidence interval. A total of 300 women (100 cases and 200 controls) with a mean age of 24.4 years were included in the study. Rural residence (AOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.10-3.76), age less than 20 years (AOR 3.04, 95% CI 1.58-5.85), history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (AOR 5.52, 95% CI 1.76-17.33), and no antenatal care (AOR 2.38, 95% CI 1.19-4.75) were found to be the determinants of preeclampsia. We found that living in a rural areas, previous history of preeclampsia, no antenatal care, and < 20 years of age were significantly associated with preeclampsia. In addition to previous preeclampsia, younger and rural resident pregnant women should be given attention in preeclampsia screening and prevention.

Association of Gestational Hypertension with Sociodemographic and Anthropometric Factors, Perinatal Outcomes, Breastfeeding Practices, and Mediterranean Diet Adherence: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Gestational hypertension has been associated with several pregnancy short-term and long-term complications, affecting both the mother and her infant's health. The present study aims to assess the potential association of gestational hypertension with sociodemographic and anthropometry factors, perinatal outcomes, breastfeeding habits, and Mediterranean diet (MD) compliance. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 5271 mothers that was carried out after delivery. The anthropometry characteristics and perinatal outcomes were retrieved from the mothers' medical records. Sociodemographic characteristics, MD adherence, and breastfeeding habits were assessed via one-to-one interviews of the assigned women with qualified staff. Results: Maternal older age, being employed, family history of gestational hypertension, overweight/obesity before gestation, and abnormal gestational weight gain (GWG) independently increased the risk of developing gestational hypertension. Moreover, gestational hypertension was independently related with a greater incidence of abnormal childbirth body weight and preterm birth, not exclusively breastfeeding, and lower levels of MD adherence. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of informing future mothers about the risk factors of gestational hypertension, underlining also that a healthy lifestyle, which simultaneously includes a healthy nutritional pattern such as MD, may decrease the risk of developing gestational hypertension and the subsequent pregnancy complications.