KNOWLEDGE OF HYPERTENSIVE DISORDER IN PREGNANCY AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTOR AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING REPRODUCTIVE AND CHILD HEALTH CLINIC AT KOROGWE TOWN HOSPITAL, TANGA, TANZANIA.

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Aim to assess the knowledge regarding hypertensive disorder among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Korogwe Town Hospital. Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy(HDP) are among the most common and critical medical complications occurring during pregnancy. Generally defined as a blood pressure reading of >140/90 mmHg, these conditions encompass several categories, with pre-eclampsia being the most severe. Complications can pose life-threatening risks to both the mother and the foetus, including premature birth, placenta abruption, and long term cardiovascular disease. The American College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist(ACOG), and global health authorities broadly classify HDP into four primary clinical categories: - Chronic Hypertension, Gestation Hypertension, Pre-eclampsia (and Eclampsia), Chronic Hypertension with Superimposed pre-eclampsia Methodology: Analytical cross-sectional study design involving 155 participants was conducted at korogwe town hospital. Interviewer and selfadministered structured questionnaire was used to assess the objectives of the study. Coded, checked and then analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20 so as to develop descriptive statistical information presented inform of table, pie chart, histogram and bar charts. Results: Among 155 participants who were recruited in the study pregnant women aged 25 years or less constituted the majority 51(32.9%). Majority of the respondents had secondary education level 78(50.3%), while majority of the participant were married 110(71%). With regard to occupation status, majority were self-employed/employed 114(73.4%). While the majority of the respondents 120(77.4%) had low level of knowledge,13(8.4%) had moderate level of knowledge and 22(14.2%) had high knowledge of hypertensive disorders in pregnant. The study found that the prevalence of hypertensive disorder among pregnant women attending Korogwe Town Hospital to be 9.7%. Conclusion: Though the prevalence of hypertensive disorder was low, a bigger proportion of these women did not have good knowledge of the disease and its complications. The study found that majority of those participants who were found to have experienced hypertensive disorder had low level of knowledge. However, older pregnant women were ranging from moderate level of knowledge to high level of knowledge. Also, healthcare providers should strengthen the awareness of pregnant hypertensive disorder in antenatal clinics.