Prevalence and Predictors of Pre-Existing Hypertension among Prenatal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess prevalence and predictors of pre-existing hypertension in pregnant women in three districts of Northern region, Ghana. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1626 women in the third trimester of pregnancy across four antenatal centers in 2018. A questionnaire was used to collect medical information including weight and height. We used descriptive statistics to characterize all qualitative variables and performed logistic regression analyses to estimate association of hypertension and other risk factors. RESULTS: We included 1626 women; mean age standard deviation (SD) of pregnant women was 27.4 (5.1) years. About 4.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.6–5.7) of pregnant women reported they had earlier been diagnosed of having hypertension by a doctor or midwife, before pregnancy. Obese pregnant women had 2.9 times increased adjusted odds of having hypertension relative to non-obese pregnant women (Odds Ratio (OR))=2.9, 95% [CI]: 1.39–5.85, P=0.004). Further, gestational diabetes was a predictor of pre-existing hypertension at an increased odds of 4.9 times relative to those without gestational diabetes (OR= 4.9, CI: 0.92–26.75, P=0.061). Women with two or more children had 3.2 times the adjusted odds of having hypertension (OR=3.2 CI: 1.59–6.69, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence pre-existing hypertension was not too high, obesity, gestational diabetes and number of children were independent predictors of pre-existing hypertension in pregnant women.