Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes in Patients Admitted With Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Sub-Saharan African Tertiary Hospitals: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Background: Hypertensive diseases in pregnancy (HDP) are a combination of syndromes which include pre-existing hypertension or gestational hypertension, chronic hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and eclampsia, and are leading causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this systematic review was set out to identify maternal and neonatal outcomes among women with HDP in tertiary hospitals in sub-Saharan African countries.
Method: A literature search was conducted of free articles written in English and published in sub-Saharan Africa between January 2012 to June 2022. The search was managed by Endnote X9 and documented in Microsoft Word 2016.
Results: For maternal outcomes identified outcomes were hemolysis elevated enzymes and low platelets count (HELLP), admission to the intensive care unit, and maternal mortality. Neonatal outcomes include stillbirth, low birth weight, pre-term birth, perinatal mortality, neonatal mortality, small for gestational age, low Apgar score, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, and post-partum haemorrhage. Almost half of all studies reviewed were conducted in Ethiopia 9(45%).
Conclusion: The common maternal outcomes reported were HEELP and mortality while neonatal outcomes are stillbirth, low birth weight, pre-term birth, perinatal mortality, and neonatal mortality. Heighten and persistent screening for risk factors for HDP should be encouraged to reduce the magnitude of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.
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