Background

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) remain one of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study determined the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy among attendees at a Cottage Hospital in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Methods

The study was a retrospective analysis of all pregnant women managed for HDP at Obio Cottage Hospital between January 2019 and December 2023. Relevant data were extracted using the study proforma and analysed using IBM SPSS version 26. Level of significance was set at P-value < 0.05.

Results

The prevalence of HDP was 4.7%, while gestational hypertension was the commonest form of HDP (40.3%) and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia was the least (11.8%). History of chronic hypertension (13.3%) was the commonest risk factor identified, and preterm delivery (6.8%) was the most common complication. More than half of the women delivered above 37 weeks (58.2%) and had induction of labour (56.3%). About 48.5% of the women delivered through the vaginal route and about 90% of the babies had Apgar scores of at least 7 at both 1 and 5 minutes.

Conclusions

Though the prevalence of HDP in this study was within the global rate, extremes of age, nulliparity, previous and family history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and multiple pregnancies were identified risk factors. Regular antenatal care and prompt management of HDP based on established protocol will improve maternal and perinatal outcomes and reduce adverse outcomes of HDP.