Study of preeclampsia and eclampsia cases and controls in Tete (Mozambique)

Abstract

Introduction: Preeclampsia and eclampsia are prevailing obstetric pathologies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Their role is relevant to maternal morbimortality, and constitutes the third cause of pregnancy complications. Their etiopathology remains an enigmatic fight for the scientific community, since risk factors occur differently depending on the socioeconomic situation of each country. Aims: Determining the factors associated to the development of preeclampsia and eclampsia in the pregnant women admitted to Tete Provincial Hospital’s maternity area. Secondary aims are to assess perinatal complications and compare the results with similar studies from different geographical areas. Methods: An analytical study of cases and controls was carried out with 195 pregnant women admitted to Tete Provincial Hospital, of which 82 were cases (66 had a diagnostic criteria of preeclampsia, 16 of eclampsia) and 113 were controls. Sociodemographic variables, medical history, obstetric characteristics and neonatal variables were assessed. Results: Pregnant women afflicted with preeclampsia were significantly of urban (p=0.007), adolescent (p=0.016 OR: 2.313; IC 95% (1.170 ; 4.570), primiparous (p=0.020) or with a multiple pregnancy (p=0.013), of greater weight for preeclampsia and lesser weight for eclampsia (p=0.031). Hypertensive stages during birth increase the risk of low birth weight (<2500g) (OR = 2,54; IC del 95% = 1,05 a 6,12). Conclusions: adolescence turned out to be a risk factor for preeclampsia and eclampsia development.