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Abstract
Background:
Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) is one of the most common medical disorders complicating pregnancy and is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. It usually develops after 20 weeks of gestation and poses serious health risks to both the mother and fetus, particularly in developing countries where access to quality maternal healthcare is limited.
Objective:
To identify the significant risk factors associated with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) among pregnant women.
Material and Methods:
A descriptive retrospective cohort study was conducted among 277 pregnant women diagnosed with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) at tertiary care hospitals in Nawabshah. The study was carried out over a period of three months after approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). All pregnant women diagnosed with PIH who consented to participate were included, while those with other chronic illnesses unrelated to pregnancy were excluded. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Frequencies, percentages, and Chi-square tests were applied to determine associations between sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, and PIH outcomes.
Results:
The mean age of participants was 27.3 ± 5.54 years. Most participants were Muslim (92.4%) and from rural areas (61.4%). More than half belonged to the poor socioeconomic class (52.7%), and 41.9% were illiterate. The majority were housewives (55.6%) and lived in joint family systems (63.2%). Most pregnancies were wanted (92.1%), and deliveries commonly occurred at 38 weeks (44.8%). Participants mostly reported sleeping 8 hours per night (57.4%), while 68.2% experienced psychological stress during pregnancy. Regarding medical history, 74.4% had no previous history of pregnancy induced hypertension, 63.9% reported a family history of chronic hypertension, and 45.8% had a family history of diabetes. Most participants had no history of diabetes (85.2%), kidney disease (92.1%), or asthma (65.7%).
Conclusion:
The study identified several sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with pregnancy induced hypertension among pregnant women. Factors such as rural residence, low socioeconomic status, illiteracy, psychological stress, and family history of hypertension may contribute to the development of PIH. Early screening, proper antenatal care, and health education are essential to reduce the risk and complications associated with pregnancy induced hypertension.