title: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy among pregnant women in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) represent a group of conditions associated with high blood pressure during pregnancy. It is an important cause of feto-maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. The aims of the study were to find the prevalence of hypertensive disorders and its associated risk factors among women attending the antenatal clinic of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital,(UDUTH) Sokoto.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study of 216 consecutively recruited women that were less than 20 weeks pregnant at booking was carried out. Blood pressure was measured for each woman at booking and at subsequent visits. Urinalysis was done at booking and whenever blood pressure was elevated. Patients were followed-up to delivery and 6 weeks postpartum. Data entry and analysis was done using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) statistical package.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HDP in the study was 17% while preeclampsia was 6%. Previous history of preeclampsia (P < 0.001; Relative risk (RR) 4.2; conficence interval (CI) 2.144-6.812), multiple gestation (P < 0.03; RR 3.8; CI 1.037-6.235), gestational diabetes (P < 0.02; RR 4.8; CI 1.910-6.751) and obesity (P < 0.002; RR 2.7; CI 1.373-5.511) were the significant risk factors in the development of HDP among the study population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HDP in the study group is high. Therefore, paying attention to the risk factors will ensure early detection and prevention of the progression of the disease and its sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ekele Bissallah
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Shehu Constance
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Egondu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nwobodo Emmanuel
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Ikechukwu
keywords: Hypertension; pre-eclampsia; pregnancy; prevalence; risk factors