Risk Factors Associated with Pregnancy Induced Hypertension in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana - Abstract
Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension develops as a result of pregnancy and generally regresses after delivery. This study determined the risk factors associated with Pregnancy-induced hypertension among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at the Hohoe Municipal hospital.
Methods: An unmatched case-control study involving 108 cases and 108 controls were recruited from the Antenatal care clinic. Face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested semi-structure questionnaire was used to collect information from the pregnant women. Information on blood pressure and other clinical measurements was extracted from the maternal health record book. Chi square test and Logistic regression were used to determine the association and strength of association between risk factors and Pregnancy-induced hypertension. A p-value <0.05 was declared significant.
Results: Advanced maternal age of 35-39 years, consumption of trans fatty food, a family history of hypertension and history of previous pre-term delivery were found to be significantly associated with Pregnancy-induced hypertension (AOR 3.53, p=0.048), (AOR= 4.43, p< 0.001), (AOR= 3.42, p=0.012) and (AOR= 5.14, p=0.017) respectively.
Conclusion: Maternal age, high consumption of trans fatty food, a family history of hypertension and history of previous pre-term delivery were factors found to be associated with of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Health educational programmes on causes of Pregnancy-induced hypertension need to be intensified.