PREVALENCE OF PREECLAMPSIA AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG ANTENATAL WOMEN
Preeclampsia is one of the most serious multi-organ complication in antenatal women defined by the new onset of hypertension and proteinuria at gestational week 20 or after. It is a leading cause of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality and represents a considerable burden to the healthcare resources in developing countries. This study aims to determine the incidence of pre-eclampsia and distribution of risk factors of pre-eclampsia at Sri Muthukumaran Medical college hospital and research institute, Chikkarayapuram, near Mangadu, Chennai. A retrospective study included 250 pregnant women from 1 July to 31 December. Data were obtained from the medical records of the hospital’s Statistics Department. Associations between the risk factors and pre-eclampsia were determined using logistic regression analysis and expressed as odds ratios with 95% confidence interval. The prevalence rate of pre-eclampsia in the study population was 9.2%. The majority of our population were Primi (69.6%). We compared the association of socio-demographic characteristics such as age, income level, occupation of the study subjects and social habits like smoking with Preeclampsia. The odds of preeclampsia were higher among women more than 35 years of age, with working class of people and those in below poverty line group. 14.3% women who were <= 19 years had pre-eclampsia. Ages 20 to 24 years, were not associated with preeclampsia in pregnancy. The study also analysed the association between specific risk factors such as family history of preeclampsia, BMI (Body Mass Index) of the mothers, IVF Pregnancies, disease conditions like chronic hypertension and diabetes and Preeclampsia. The findings indicate that preeclampsia has a higher odds in people with BMI >30, women with IVF pregnancies and women with history of diabetes and chronic hypertension. Women with history of preeclampsia in previous pregnancy also had higher odds for developing preeclampsia.