Introduction: Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among expectant mothers. While some women may be unaware of its existence, others hold misconceptions about its nature or attribute symptoms to superstitions. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, risk factors, and complications of pregnancy-related hypertension among women at Tamale Teaching Hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized hospital record data from pregnant women at Tamale Teaching Hospital. A simple random sample of 115 women was selected for analysis. Data was gathered through a pretested questionnaire addressing background information, risk factors, and complications of pregnancy hypertension.. Means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables, while Pearson’s chi-square test assessed associations between variables. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the strength of associations with PIH, using two-sided p values at a significance level of 0.05. Results: In a study of 115 women over 20 weeks pregnant, the prevalence of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) was 7.8%. Strong correlations were observed with factors such as a family history of PIH and previous PIH in pregnancies. Among those with PIH, 77.78% underwent Caesarean sections. Birth outcomes indicated that 55. 56% resulted in live births, while 44.44% were stillbirths. Additionally, 22.22% of births were preterm, and 11.11% were complicated by spontaneous abortions, highlighting the serious impact of PIH on maternal and fetal health. Conclusion: Pregnancy-induced hypertension was less common than at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, with key risk factors being parity, family history, and previous PIH. Caesarean sections were the most significant delivery outcome, with complications including preterm birth and spontaneous abortion.
Cite this paper
Charadan, A. M. S. , Boamah, K. O. and Hernandez, S. (2025). Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension at Tamale Teaching Hospital, Northern Region. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e3362. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113362.
Phyllis, M.M. and Sibai, M. (2023) Pre-Eclampsia: Clinical Features and Diagnosis.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/preeclampsia-clinical-features-and-diagnosis#
Hutcheon, J.A., Lisonkova, S. and Joseph, K.S. (2011) Epidemiology of Pre-Eclampsia and the Other Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 25, 391-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2011.01.006
Tranquilli, A.L., Dekker, G., Magee, L., Roberts, J., Sibai, B.M., Steyn, W., et al. (2014) The Classification, Diagnosis and Management of the Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: A Revised Statement from the ISSHP. Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Women’s Cardiovascular Health, 4, 97-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preghy.2014.02.001
Goldenberg, R.L., McClure, E.M., MacGuire, E.R., Kamath, B.D. and Jobe, A.H. (2011) Lessons for Low‐Income Regions Following the Re-duction in Hypertension‐related Maternal Mortality in High‐Income Countries. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstet-rics, 113, 91-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.01.002
Tessema, G.A., Tekeste, A. and Ayele, T.A. (2015) Pre-eclampsia and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Dessie Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia: A Hospital-Based Study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 15, Article No. 73. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0502-7
van Middendorp, D., Asbroek, A.t., Bio, F.Y., Edusei, A., Meijjer, L., Newton, S., et al. (2013) Rural and Urban Differences in Blood Pressure and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension among Pregnant Women in Ghana. Globalization and Health, 9, Article No. 59. https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-8603-9-59
Muti, M., Tshimanga, M., Notion, G.T., Bangure, D. and Chonzi, P. (2015) Prevalence of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension and Pregnancy Outcomes among Women Seeking Maternity Services in Harare, Zimbabwe. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 15, Article No. 111. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-015-0110-5
Organization, W. H. (2014) Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2013: Estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, The World Bank and the United Nations Population Division: Executive Sum-mary. World Health Organization.
Asamoah, B.O., Moussa, K.M., Stafstrom, M. and Musinguzi, G. (2011) Distribution of Causes of Maternal Mortality among Different Socio-Demographic Groups in Ghana; a Descriptive Study. BMC Public Health, 11, Article No. 159. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-159
Larry, J., Wisdom, T., Wisdom, K. A., Rich-ard, O., Phyllis, A. and Elvis, T. (2017) Risk Factors Associated with Pregnancy Induced Hypertension in the Hohoe Munici-pality of Ghana. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, 1, 1011.
Khosravi, S., Dabiran, S., Lotfi, M. and Asnavandy, M. (2014) Study of the Prevalence of Hypertension and Complications of Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 4, 860-867. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojpm.2014.411097
Jemila, N., Midhagsa, D. and Melkamu, G. (2021) Prevalence of High Risk Pregnant Women Who Attend Antenatal Care and Associated Factors in Jimma Medical Center, Jimma Town, South Western Ethiopia. International Journal of Women’s Health and Wellness, 7, Arti-cle No. 133. https://doi.org/10.23937/2474-1353/1510133
Osungbade, K.O. and Ige, O.K. (2011) Public Health Perspectives of Pre-Eclampsia in Developing Countries: Implication for Health System Strengthening. Journal of Pregnancy, 2011, Article ID: 481095. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/481095
Khan, K.S., Wojdyla, D., Say, L., Gülmezoglu, A.M. and Van Look, P.F. (2006) WHO Analysis of Causes of Maternal Death: A Systematic Review. The Lancet, 367, 1066-1074. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(06)68397-9
Steegers, E.A., von Dadelszen, P., Duvekot, J.J. and Pijnenborg, R. (2010) Pre-Eclampsia. The Lancet, 376, 631-644. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(10)60279-6
Garomssa, H. and Dwivedi, A.D. (2018) Maternal Mortality in Ambo Hospital: A Five-Year Retrospective Review. Ethiopian Journal of Re-productive Health, 2, 27. https://doi.org/10.69614/ejrh.v2i1.76
Gaym, A., Bailey, P., Pearson, L., Admasu, K. and Gebrehiwot, Y. (2011) Disease Burden Due to Pre‐Eclampsia/Eclampsia and the Ethiopian Health System’s Response. In-ternational Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 115, 112-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.07.012
Abdella, A. (2010) Maternal Mortality Trend in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 24, 115-122. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhd.v24i1.62953
Itam, I.H. and Ekabua, J.E. (2001) A Review of Pregnancy Outcome in Women with Eclampsia at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar. Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecolo-gy, 18, 66-68. https://doi.org/10.4314/tjog.v18i2.14432
Myers, J.E. and Baker, P.N. (2002) Hypertensive Diseases and Eclampsia. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 14, 119-125. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001703-200204000-00004
Singh, S., Ahmed, E., Egondu, S. and Ikechukwu, N. (2014) Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy among Pregnant Women in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital. Nigerian Medical Journal, 55, 384-388. https://doi.org/10.4103/0300-1652.140377
Duley, L. (2009) The Global Impact of Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia. Seminars in Perinatology, 33, 130-137. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.semperi.2009.02.010
Adu‐Bonsaffoh, K., Obed, S.A. and Seffah, J.D. (2014) Maternal Outcomes of Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 127, 238-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.06.010
Ugwu, et al. (2011) Maternal and Perinatal Outcome of Severe Pre-Eclampsia in Enugu, Nigeria after Introduction of Magnesium Sulfate. The Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 14, 418-421.
Lee, Q.Y., Odoi, A.T., Opare‐Addo, H. and Dassah, E.T. (2011) Maternal Mortality in Ghana: A Hospital‐Based Review. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 91, 87-92. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01249.x
Ekele, B.A., Bello, S.O. and Adamu, A.N. (2006) Clusters of Ec-lampsia in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 96, 62-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2006.09.027
Danso, K.A. and Opare‐Addo, H.S. (2010) Challenges Associated with Hypertensive Disease during Pregnancy in Low‐Income Countries. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 110, 78-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.01.026
Gumanga, S.K., Kolbila, D.Z., Gandua, B.B.N., Munkaila, A., Malechi, H. and Kyei-Aboagye, K. (2011) Trends in Maternal Mortality in Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Ghana Medical Journal, 45, 105-110.
Chawla, S. and Anim‐Nyame, N. (2014) Advice on Exercise for Pregnant Women with Hyper-tensive Disorders of Pregnancy. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 128, 275-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.09.024
Frawley, N., East, C. and Brennecke, S. (2019) Women’s Experiences of Pre-eclampsia: A Prospective Survey of Preeclamptic Women at a Single Tertiary Centre. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecol-ogy, 40, 65-69. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2019.1615040
Adu-Bonsaffoh, K., Antwi, D.A., Gyan, B. and Obed, S.A. (2017) Endothelial Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Pre-Eclampsia in Ghanaian Women. BMC Physiology, 17, Article No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12899-017-0029-4
Ramesh, K., Gandhi, S. and Rao, V. (2014) So-cio-Demographic and Other Risk Factors of Pre-Eclampsia at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Karnataka: Case Control Study. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR, 8, JC01.
Obed, S.A. and Patience, A. (2006) Birth Weight and Ponderal Index in Pre-Eclampsia: A Comparative Study. Ghana Medical Journal, 40, 8. https://www.ghanamedj.org/articles/March2006/Birthweight.pdf
Ayele, G., Lemma, S. and Agedew, E. (2016) Fac-tors Associated with Hypertension during Pregnancy in Derashie Woreda South Ethiopia, Case Control. Quality in Primary Care, 24, 207-213.
Amoakoh-Coleman, M., Ansah, E.K., Agyepong, I.A., Grobbee, D.E., Kayode, G.A. and Klip-stein-Grobusch, K. (2015) Predictors of Skilled Attendance at Delivery among Antenatal Clinic Attendants in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study of Population Data. BMJ Open, 5, e007810. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007810
Gudeta, T.A. and Regassa, T.M. (1970) Pregnancy Induced Hyper-tension and Associated Factors among Women Attending Delivery Service at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Tepi General Hospital and Gebretsadik Shawo Hospital, Southwest, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 29, 831-840. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v29i1.4
Tebeu, P.M., Foumane, P., Mbu, R., Fosso, G., Biyaga, P.T. and Fomulu, J.N. (2011) Risk Factors for Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy: A Report from the Maroua Regional Hospital, Cameroon. Journal of Reproduction & Infertility, 12, 227.
Fondjo, L.A., Boamah, V.E., Fierti, A., Gyesi, D. and Owiredu, E. (2019) Knowledge of Pre-eclampsia and Its Associated Factors among Pregnant Women: A Possible Link to Reduce Related Adverse Outcomes. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 19, Article No. 456. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2623-x
Mutiso, S.K., Murage, A. and Mukaindo, A. (2014) Patterns and Factors Associated with Early Pregnancy Loss at Kenyatta National Hospital. East African Medical Journal, 91, 231-235.
Okunlola, M.A., Ayinde, O.A., Owonikoko, K.M. and Omigbodun, A.O. (2003) Spontaneous Abortion: A Review of Management in a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 20, 85-88.
