Incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes and risk factors among women with pre-eclampsia, southern Ethiopia: a prospective open cohort study. Issue 1 (29th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jikamo, Birhanu; Adefris, Mulat; Azale, Telake; Gelaye, Kassahun Alemu
• Is Part Of: BMJ paediatrics open. Volume 6:Issue 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08-29
• Subjects: epidemiology -- health services research -- neonatology -- nursing care -- nursing; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001567
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-9772

Abstract

Abstract : Background: In Ethiopia, in 2021, more than 80% of all newborn deaths were caused by preventable and treatable conditions. This study aimed to measure the incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes and risk factors among women with pre-eclampsia in the Sidama region of southern Ethiopia. Methods: A prospective open cohort study was conducted from 8 August 2019 to 1 October 2020. We enrolled 363 women with pre-eclampsia and 367 normotensive women at ≥20 weeks of gestation and followed them until the 37th week. We then followed them until the seventh day after delivery up to the last perinatal outcome status was ascertained. A log-binomial logistic regression model was used to estimate the incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes and its risk factors among women with pre-eclampsia. Relative risk (RR) with a 95% CI was reported. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 224 adverse perinatal outcomes observed in the 363 women with pre-eclampsia compared with 136 adverse perinatal outcomes in the 367 normotensive women (p<0.001). There were 23 early neonatal deaths in the pre-eclampsia group compared with six deaths in the normotensive group (p<0.001). There were 35 perinatal deaths in the pre-eclampsia group compared with 16 deaths in the normotensive group (p<0.05). Women with severe features of pre-eclampsia had a 46% (adjusted RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.77) higher risk for adverse perinatal outcomes compared with women without severe features of pre-eclampsia. Conclusions: In this study, more adverse perinatal outcomes occurred among women with pre-eclampsia after controlling for confounders. A higher perinatal outcome observed among women with pre-eclampsia, especially among women with severe features of pre-eclampsia, and those admitted to hospital at <34 weeks. This paper highlights the significantly elevated perinatal risks associated with pre-eclampsia, especially when it has severe features.