Women in southern Nigeria with change in paternity do not have increased incidence of pre-eclampsia

Summary

This was a prospective cohort study of women in their second pregnancies aimed at determining if there was a difference in the incidence of pre-eclampsia between those with changed paternity and those without change in paternity in an entirely black African population. Women in their second pregnancies receiving antenatal care between September 2006 and August 2007 were recruited into the study between 10 and 20 weeks’ gestational age and followed up until 37 weeks’ gestation. The main outcome measures included incidence of pre-eclampsia in relation to change in paternity at second pregnancy, incidence of pre-eclampsia in relation to duration of sexual cohabitation among those with changed paternity and inter-pregnancy interval. There was no significant difference in the incidence of pre-eclampsia between women who had changed paternity and those without change in paternity (3.5% vs 3.1%, p = 0.835). The inter-pregnancy interval was also similar in both groups. The mean duration of sexual cohabitation was similar between women who had changed paternity that developed pre-eclampsia and those that did not develop pre-eclampsia (7.9 ± 1.3 vs 7.5 ± 2.1 months, p = 0.531). It was concluded that Southern Nigerian women with change in paternity in their second pregnancies do not have increased incidence of pre-eclampsia.

Keywords:

• Nigeria
• paternity change
• pre-eclampsia