The Prevalence and Knowledge on Preeclampsia Among Pregnant Women at Shinyanga Region Referral Hospital.
- Mwanza, Tanzania | Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS-Bugando] | 2024.
- 51 Pages Includes References
Abstract:
Background: Pre-eclampsia is a hypertension of at least 140/90mmHg recorded on at least 300mg protein in a 24 - hour urine sample, arising after 20 weeks of gestation in a previously normotensive woman and resolving completely by the sixth postpartum week (myers, 2017). In Tanzania the prevalence of pre-eclampsia was found to be 4.2% while in Zanzibar the prevalence of pre-eclampsia was found to be 9% in 2011 (10). The Tanzania Demographic and Health survey (TDHS) of 2015-2016 reported that 16% of MMR was due to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
Method: This was a cross- sectional study conducted at Shinyanga regional referral Hospital. A structured interviewer- delivered questionnaire was used to collect data for this study. Data were collected from pregnant women presenting at Shinyanga regional referral hospital using questionnaires.
Result/ Discussion: The study recruited 80 participants and the prevalence of preeclampsia was found to be 8.84%. most of participants had inadequate knowledge regarding the symptoms, risk factors and complication of preeclampsia, respondent’s knowledge on maternal mortality regarding preeclampsia including those who had no knowledge 40 (25%) and those who had knowledge 60(75%). Most of respondents had knowledge on maternal mortality as a complication of preeclampsia. The mean knowledge about preeclampsia was low (< 50), however most participants were able to recognize hypertension as a predominant feature of preeclampsia. Most of women heard about preeclampsia from health workers during antenatal visit. Age and level of education were a statistically significant determinant of knowledge on preeclampsia.
Conclusion: The study shown knowledge deficit on preeclampsia among pregnant women and most of women were unsure of what should be done to prevent them from developing preeclampsia. Hence women need to be educated on symptoms, risk factors and complication of preeclampsia so as to prevent them from developing complication that may rise due to preeclampsia and to enable them to seek immediate care.
Wurzburg Road 35, Premises, Post Code: 33102 | P. O. Box 1464 Mwanza, Tanzania | Phone: (255) 28-298-3384 | Fax: (255) 28-298-3386 | Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz | Website: www.bugando.ac.tz