Identification of Risk Factors Associated with Preeclampsia in a Selected Hospital of Lalitpur, Nepal: A Case-Control Study

Pre-eclampsia is a multisystemic disorder associated with pregnancy, the clinical symptoms of this condition are hypertension, proteinuria, oedema and platelet aggregation; the symptoms includes vasoconstriction which caused maternal hypertension, impairment of placenta-vascular endothelial integrity reduced uterine blood flow with increased permeability and activation of the coagulation factors. Objective of the study is to identify the risk factors for pre-eclampsia among clients with pre-eclampsia and find out the differences between cases and control. An observational case control design was used for collecting data. Face to face, interview was conducted among purposively selected 168 respondents (56 cases and 112 controls) Data was entered and analyzed through SPSS 16 version for descriptive as well as inferential analysis. All ethical aspects was followed. In bivariate analysis age, gravida, twin type of residence, type of food intake, type of family, Birth interval, blood group, maternal Rh factor, newborn sex, maternal BMI and History of abortion were not significantly associated with development of PE. High blood pressure, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia which was developed in previous pregnancy were not associated with development of PE in current pregnancy too. Regarding family history, hypertension (2.48 times) and heart disease (2.14times) were significantly associate with development of pre-eclampsia. Use of contraception, calcium intake during pregnancy and alcohol use during pregnancy also were not associated with development of PE In conclusion, family history of hypertension and heart disease are the major risk factors for the development of preeclampsia. For the prevention of the complications of preeclampsia, the health care providers should provide the suggestions on routine antenatal checkup to pregnant women Key words: Lalitpur, Preeclampsia, Risk factors, Women.