Mastewal Arefaynie Temesgen
Background: Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal and prenatal mortality. It is also a major cause of pregnancy complication, causing premature delivery, foetal growth retardation. In addition, it has long-term health effects, like, chronic hypertension, kidney failure and nervous system disorders. Since no study was conducted so far in Kombolcha town, exploring determinants of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy is important to take important preventions in the study area. The objective of this study is to assess determinants of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy among pregnant women attending antenatal and delivery in Kombolcha town.
Methods: A facility based unmatched case control study design was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal and delivery care services in health facilities of Kombolcha town. 117 cases and 353 controls were participated in the study. For data collection, a structured and pretested standard questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics were done to characterize the study population using different variables. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression models were fitted to control confounding factors. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were computed to identify determinants of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Result: In this study participants who could not read and write were 2.66 (AOR, 2.643, 95% CI, 1.106-6.319) and 4.4 (AOR, 4.417, 95% CI, 1.583-12.327) times more risk of developing hypertensive disorder of pregnancy than those who can read and write, attending their primary education respectively. Women who have previous history of preeclampsia were 4.4 (AOR, 4.224, 95% CI, 2.064-8.645) times more risk of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy than their counterparts.
Conclusion and recommendation: In this study, lower educational status, previous history of preeclampsia and family history of hypertension were determinants of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Health care providers should give high attention for illiterate, previous history of preeclampsia to initiate ANC to prevent, early diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in pregnant women to reduce maternal and child complications.