title: Risk factors for pre-eclampsia in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pre-eclampsia contributes significantly to maternal, foetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The risk factors for pre-eclampsia have not been well documented in Uganda. In this paper, we describe the risk factors for pre-eclampsia in women attending antenatal clinics at Mulago Hospital, Kampala.
  
  
  METHODS
  This casecontrol study was conducted from 1st May 2008 to 1st May 2009. 207 women with pre-eclampsia were the cases, and 352 women with normal pregnancy were the controls. The women were 15-39 years old, and their gestational ages were 20 weeks or more. They were interviewed about their socio-demographic characteristics, past medical history and, their past and present obstetric performances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk factors were low plasma vitamin C (OR 3.19, 95% CI: 1.54-6.61), low education level (OR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.12-2.48), chronic hypertension (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.12-4.66), family history of hypertension (OR 2.25, 95% CI: 1.53-3.31) and primiparity (OR 2.76, 95% CI: 1.84-4.15) and para≥5 (3.71, 95% CI:1.84-7.45).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk factors identified are similar to what has been found elsewhere. Health workers need to identify women at risk of pre-eclampsia and manage them appropriately so as to prevent the maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. kiondop@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kiondo
authors.forename: Gakenia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wamuyu-Maina
authors.forename: Gabriel S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bimenya
authors.forename: Nazarius Mbona
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Tumwesigye
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wandabwa
authors.forename: Pius
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Okong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014454:Uganda; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult