Determinants of preeclampsia among mothers attending perinatal care in Gurage zone public hospitals, Ethiopia, matched case control study

Preeclampsia is the commonest and most serious type of hypertensive disorder during pregnancy. It is the cause of 10% – 15% of maternal death worldwide. Though maternal mortality in Ethiopia is decreasing, deaths related to pregnancy-induced hypertension is increasing. Identifying the factors associated with preeclampsia helps reduce the incidence of the disease and its adverse outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to assess determinants of preeclampsia among mothers attending perinatal care in Gurage zone public hospitals, Ethiopia, 2020. Institution-based matched case-control study design was used to assess determinants of preeclampsia among 426 mothers, 142 cases, and 284 controls. The study was conducted in three public hospitals in Gurage Zone. Cases were preeclamptic mothers and Controls were non-preeclamptic mothers. EPI INFO was used to enter the data and then SPSS was used to analyze the data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used. Significantly associated factors on multivariate analysis in this study are nulliparity with AOR 3.81; 95% CI (1.55,9.34); multiplicity of pregnancy AOR 3.62; 95%CI (1.08,12.13) having preeclampsia history AOR 10.11; 95%CI (4.06, 25.21); parents history of hypertension had AOR 2.95; 95%CI; (1.11,7.68); and drinking alcohol AOR 4.42; 95%CI (2.15,9.08) In this study determinants’ of preeclampsia are nulliparity, multiplicity of pregnancy, previous history of preeclampsia, family history of hypertension, and alcohol consumption. Providing health education about risk factors of preeclampsia, early initiation, and increased frequency of antenatal follow-up will help early identification of these risk factors, diagnosis of preeclampsia, and preventing its complications.