Preeclampsia Among Pregnant Women Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Taiz City: Insights from a Conflict-Stricken Setting in Southwest Yemen

Hanan M Hasan,1 Maisa SM Thabit,2 Maha Abdulaziz1 1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology (USTY), Sana’a, Yemen; 2Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Republican General Teaching Hospital, Taiz, YemenCorrespondence: Hanan M Hasan, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology (USTY), Sana’a, Yemen, Tel +967 734666630, Email [email protected]: Preeclampsia (PE) contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality among mothers and newborns, especially in conflict-stricken settings like Yemen, where data are limited. This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with PE among pregnant women at a tertiary care hospital in Taiz, southwest of Yemen.Methods: From January to December 2024, a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 205 pregnant women admitted to the Republican General Teaching Hospital in Taiz. Women’s demographics, obstetric characteristics and medical history were extracted from medical records using a data collection sheet. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data, and chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests were used to assess associations with PE, with P-values < 0.05 being considered statistically significant.Results: PE prevalence was 10.7% (22/205; 95% CI: 6.9– 15.8). Gestational age (GA) at admission was significantly associated with PE, where the likelihood of PE was more than 10-fold higher among women admitted at < 37 weeks compared to those admitted at ≥ 37 weeks (OR 10.6; 95% CI: 4.05– 27.60; P < 0.001). Although a higher risk of PE was observed among women who were nulliparous, had twin pregnancies, chronic hypertension or a history of PE, these associations were not statistically significant. No significant associations were also found with maternal age, place of residence, gravidity, antenatal care follow-up, abortion history, gestational diabetes, or renal disease.Conclusion: PE affects approximately one in ten pregnant women admitted for delivery in Taiz, exceeding regional and global estimates. Its significant association with GA < 37 weeks indicates the need to improve antenatal screening, early detection, and high-risk pregnancy management to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal complications.Keywords: preeclampsia, pregnant women, prevalence, associated factors, Yemen