Abstract

Pre-eclampsia is defined as hypertension in pregnancy arising after 20 weeks of gestation characterised by proteinuria, oedema of the lower limbs or other signs of damage to organ.    Pre-eclampsia is an important cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity.  Pre-eclampsia affects 2% to 8% of all pregnancies with a global prevalence of 10.3%. the objective of the   study was to assess the knowledge of pregnant women attending ANC on the causes and prevention of pre-eclampsia at Limbe regional hospital.

This was a cross sectional study that lasted for a period of seven months. During this period, questionnaires were shared to the participants and data collected was analysed using Excel 2013 and was represented in frequency distribution tables and pie charts. Majority of the respondents were of the age group 26 to 35 years old. Findings from this study revealed that 80% of the respondents had good knowledge on pre-eclampsia and 20% did not have.

And based on the causes of pre-eclampsia, 30% of the respondents agreed that salt consumption was the major cause of pre-eclampsia followed by obesity 60% and lack of physical activities 10%. With respect to the prevention of pre-eclampsia, 70% agreed that maintaining a normal body weight was the best option, salt reduction and excise regiments was approved by 20% and 10% of the respondents.

Conclusively, Majority of the respondents had good knowledge on pre-eclampsia and 30% could identify the causes and 70% agreed that maintaining a normal body weight is the one the best preventive measures for pre-eclampsia.

It is recommended that health talks should be given to pregnant women’s during ANC on the causes and preventions on pre-eclampsia and health campaigns should also be organized by health care workers to educate pregnant women on pre-eclampsia.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Pre-eclampsia is defined as hypertension arising after 20 weeks of gestational age with proteinuria, pedal oedema at the ankle or other signs of end-organ damage and is an important cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Particularly when of early onset [1, 2]

Pre-eclampsia affects 2% to 8% of all pregnancies and is a significant cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The disease is responsible for one-sixth of all premature births, which are a notable burden on healthcare systems.

One-third of all Pre-eclampsia cases require preterm delivery, and its association [3,4] with foetal growth restriction and prematurity often leads to lifelong consequences for the child, including higher risk of cerebral palsy and neuro-developmental delay, respiratory disorders, hypertension, renal dysfunction, insulin resistance, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and impaired work capacity.[5,6] Furthermore, mothers affected by Pre-eclampsia are 2 to 5 times more likely to develop hypertension and cerebrovascular disease in the future when compared with mothers who do not have Pre-eclampsia in their pregnancies.[7,8]

According to [9, 10], obesity, excess salt intake and alcohol are some of the causes of Pre-eclampsia which can be moderated over time to ensure save delivery.

Although a significant amount of research has been dedicated in identifying preventive measures for Pre-eclampsia, the incidence of the condition has been relatively unchanged in the last decades.  [11,12]

Another prevention of Pre-eclampsia was suggested by a case report published in 2015 which reports that low dosages of aspirin of about 81 mg is safe and effective for the prevention of Pre-eclampsia [13]

The global prevalence of Pre-eclampsia was higher in south Iran compared to other regions of the countries and was recorded to be 10.3%, representing approximately 10,300 cases per 100,000 populations. A study on the global burden [14,15] of Pre-eclampsia also indicated that the standardized prevalence of Pre-eclampsia was more than 9,000 cases per 100,000 populations in Iran.

In contrast, the standard prevalence of CVD was less than 5,000 per 100,000 populations in Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Western Europe, and the United States of America. [16]

The prevalence of Pre-eclampsia in sub-Saharan countries ranges from 15-70 % from the period of 2000 to 2016 [17]. The prevalence of Pre-eclampsia is gradually increasing in sub-Saharan African countries.

In Cameroon, there are limited reports from Cameroon in the general population, and studies have shown that the development of targeted community health education and promotion programs may require assessment of population knowledge about Pre-eclampsia

1.2 Rationale

Preeclampsia has the greatest impact on maternal mortality worldwide. It is the second leading cause of direct maternal death and directly responsible for 70,000 maternal deaths annually at the global level. Although the exact prevalence of morbidity and mortality related to preeclampsia is not reported in the developing countries.

In Cameroon, it has been shown that pre-eclampsia is highly associated with high rate intra uterine death as well as high occurrence of maternal death. [4]. another study reveals that in Cameroon, majority of pregnant women do not attend ANC leading to late diagnosis of the disease and poor management of it. Therefore, this study will help to investigate the causes and bring forth strategies needed to prevent the occurrence of Pre-eclampsia

1.3 Goal Of The Study

The goal of this study was to generate data on the causes and prevention of Pre-eclampsia from pregnant women attending ANC at Limbe Regional Hospital so that strategies of education will be laid out.

1.4 Objectives

1.4.1 General Objectives

The general objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of pregnant women on the causes and prevention of Pre-eclampsia.

1.4.2. Specific Objectives 

1. To assess pregnant women’s knowledge attending ANC at Limbe regional hospital on pre-eclampsia
2. To assess pregnant women’s knowledge attending ANC on the causes of Pre-eclampsia at the Limbe Regional Hospital.
3. To assess pregnant women’s knowledge attending ANC on the prevention of Pre-eclampsia at the Limbe Regional Hospital.

Check out: Nursing Project Topics with Materials