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

BACKGROUND

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.