Abstract:

Introduction: Hypertension affects 5-10% of pregnant women worldwide, and is among the major cause of maternal mortality among pregnant women accounting for about 15% direct causes. It is also a major cause of LBW and APH due to placental insufficiency and placental abruption respectively; and other more complications. There was a limited data regarding magnitude of hypertension among pregnant women in Mwanza. Therefore, this study aimed at estimating the prevalence of hypertension and its attributable risks among pregnant women in Ilemela municipal.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study which enrolled 359 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in three public primary health facilities of Buzuruga, Karume and Kirumba dispensary. Participants were enrolled consecutively in each particular health center. The data collected by a questionnaire were entered to, and analyzed by an IBM SPSS software version 23, and results were descriptively tabulated.

Results: Prevalence of hypertension among pregnant women in Ilemela was found to be 4.5% affecting majority in the second and third trimester of which 2.2% was DHTN. The mean BP was 114/67mmHg. About 1.4% were chronically hypertensive in treatment and the rest are asymptomatic not in medication. Attributable factors assed revealed, obesity 7.8%, advances maternal age (40 years or more) 1.39%, family history of hypertension 11.42%, previous PIH 5.01%, tobacco use 1.1%, alcohol use 13.93%, and pregnancy with new partner 12.8%, and family history of diabetes mellitus was 5.6%.