Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy : Complications and Obstetric Outcome at Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone, Botswana

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, maternal complications, foetal outcome and characteristics of patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. SETTING: Princess Marina Hospital, a tertiary and referral Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all hypertensive women who delivered at Princess Marina Hospital from December 2002 to April 2003 was done. Information from patients’ records was entered on a compilation sheet which was entered in SPSS program and analyzed. Prevalence rates (per 1000 deliveries) were estimated by type of hypertension. Demographic characteristics, maternal complications and perinatal outcome were also determined.

RESULTS: Of 1919 deliveries at Princess Marina Hospital during the study period, there were 100 cases of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy giving a prevalence of 52.1 per 1000 deliveries. Twenty one cases had chronic hypertension of which 11 (52%) developed superimposed pre-eclampsia while 10(48%) had no proteinuria. Of 79 patients with pregnancy induced hypertension, 36 (46%) had hypertension without proteinuria, 42(53%) had pre-eclampsia and 1(1%) had eclampsia. Age ranged from 18 to 47 years with a mean age of 29.5 years. Teenagers were 8 cases out of 100. Maternal complications were HELLP syndrome (3 cases), acute renal failure (2 cases), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (1 case). There were no cases of abruptio placentae, cerebral haemorrhage or maternal death. Of all deliveries, perinatal complications included preterm deliveries (45%), low birth weight (41%) and still births (17%).

Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was high but there were few maternal complications.