MATERNAL RISK FACTORS AND OUTCOMES IN PRIMIGRAVIDA PATIENTS WITH PRE-ECLAMPSIA AND ECLAMPSIA

Background: Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia remain significant contributors to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, especially among primigravida women. Despite global data, region-specific insights remain limited, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan where early detection and management are often delayed. Objective: To determine the frequency of maternal risk factors and evaluate perinatal outcomes in primigravida patients diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over six months in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. A total of 287 full-term primigravida women with pre-eclampsia or eclampsia were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Data on demographics, maternal risk factors (age extremes, intrauterine growth retardation), and perinatal outcomes (postpartum hemorrhage, low birth weight, low APGAR score, NICU admission) were collected. SPSS version 22.0 was used for data analysis; quantitative variables were summarized as mean ± SD, and categorical variables as frequencies and percentages. Chi-square test was applied post-stratification with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean maternal age was 26.4 ± 5.8 years, and gestational age was 38.2 ± 1.1 weeks. Majority were rural residents (56.4%) and housewives (77.7%) from lower socioeconomic status (59.9%). Maternal risk factors included age <20 years (23.0%), age >35 years (11.8%), and intrauterine growth retardation (16.7%). Perinatal outcomes showed postpartum hemorrhage in 14.3%, low birth weight in 23.7%, low APGAR score in 17.1%, and NICU admission in 26.5%. Conclusion: Primigravida women with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia exhibit high-risk maternal profiles and poor perinatal outcomes. These findings reinforce the importance of early risk identification, targeted antenatal care, and improved healthcare access to mitigate complications.