Risk factors for hypertension among pregnant women aged 15-49 years seeking antenatal care servicesat jaramogi oginga odinga teaching and referral hospital, Western Kenya

Understanding the host and behavioral risk factors is important for the prevention and control of hypertension among pregnant women in a particular setting. However, in sub-Saharan Africa very few studies have been carried out on these risk factors to inform the interventions. Consequently, there are limited evidence-based interventions. A case and control study design was carried out on women aged 15-49 years seeking ANC at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral hospital. There were 48 cases and 100 controls in the study and body weight, height and blood pressure were measured using standard procedures. Other information was obtained by interviewing the study participants. The associations between the independent and dependable outcome was determined by Chi-square test, bivariate and multivariate regression analyses. The findings of the study show that the host factors such BMI, gestation period, maternal age and family at risks had the significant associations with hypertension (p <0.05). On the behavioral factors, only high cholesterol was associated with hypertension (p <0.05). Age and level of education had effect on the observed associations except for gestation period. This study found BMI, high cholesterol level, age at first birth and family history as risks to hypertension. There is a need to focus on these risk factors for an intervention in this setting. Furthermore, there should be more rigorous study using a biologic marker to detect more associations.