Perinatal Outcomes Associated with Maternal Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in a Developing Country

Abstract

Objective. To determine adverse perinatal outcomes that portend neuro-developmental problems in the offspring of mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in a low-income country. Methods. A cross-sectional study of surviving mother–infant pairs in southwest Nigeria. Results. Of 3491 mothers enrolled, 216 (6.2%) were diagnosed with HDP comprising chronic hypertension (4.6%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (55.6%), pre-eclampsia (7.4%), and eclampsia (32.4%). HDP was associated with an elevated risk of preterm birth (OR: 3.30), low birth weight (OR: 4.68), fetal growth restriction (OR: 2.94), and low Apgar scores at 1 minute (OR: 2.99) and 5 minutes (OR: 2.08) but had a protective effect on fetal distress (OR: 0.25). Conclusions. Adverse perinatal outcomes of HDP may place surviving newborns in poorly resourced countries at risk of neuro-developmental deficits.

Keywords:

• Antenatal care
• Cesarean delivery
• Developing country
• Fetal growth restriction
• Low birth weight
• Perinatal outcomes
• Pre-eclampsia
• Preterm birth