Prevalence of Pregnancy Complications of Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors among Women Admitted at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Uganda

Wanenge Bernard

School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University, Uganda.

ABSRACT

Hypertension-related complications are a significant contributor to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite clinical observations suggesting the prevalence of hypertension and its complications among pregnant women at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, comprehensive data on prevalence and associated factors were lacking. This retrospective study aimed to fill this gap by examining the prevalence of hypertension-related pregnancy complications and associated risk factors among admitted pregnant women. Medical records of pregnant women admitted to the hospital from May 2018 backwards were reviewed using a predetermined data collection sheet. Data entries were recorded in MS Excel and analyzed using logistic regression in STATA version 14 to calculate the odds ratio for risk factors. Results showed an overall hypertension prevalence of 5.87%, with preeclampsia/eclampsia incidence at 10.0%. Maternal complications affected 40.0% of hypertensive women, including abruptio placentae (6.9%), preterm labor (19.2%), and renal complications (3.1%). Maternal deaths occurred in 0.8% of cases, contributing 0.1% to total maternal mortality in the hospital over three months. Notably, blood pressure deviations from normal were identified as the sole significant risk factor associated with hypertension-related pregnancy complications. In conclusion, hypertension and its associated disorders during pregnancy are prevalent at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, posing significant risks to maternal and perinatal health. Blood pressure deviations from normal emerged as the primary significant risk factor for hypertension-related pregnancy complications, emphasizing the importance of early and accurate diagnosis for timely and appropriate management.

Keywords: Hypertensive disorders, Pregnancy complications, Prevalence, Maternal morbidity, Perinatal mortality

CITE AS: Wanenge Bernard (2024). Prevalence of Pregnancy Complications of Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors among Women Admitted at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Uganda. RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 3(1):118-124.