Abstract:
Background: - Preeclampsia is defined as an increase in blood pressure or BP ≥140/90mmHg
after 20 weeks of pregnancy, While Eclampsia is defined as convulsions in women with
preeclampsia. The adverse birth outcome is a common health problem consisting of several
health effects involving pregnancy and the newborn infant. Infants with one or more adverse
birth outcomes are at greater risk for mortality and a variety of health and developmental
problems. In Ethiopia; adverse birth outcomes remained high despite the country’s maximum
effort
Objective: - The purpose of this study was to assess the adverse birth outcome
and associated factors among mothers with preeclampsia and eclampsia who gave birth in Arba
Minch General Hospital, south, Ethiopia, 2022
Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was done among 373 charts of
preeclamptic/eclamptic mothers from January 1, 2019, to December 30, 2022. Data was
collected using a structured checklist and analyzed by SPSS version 26 for analysis. For each
variable, descriptive statistics were computed, and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression
analyses were run to find the variables associated with adverse birth outcomes. P-values of 0.05
with a 95% confidence interval were declared statistically significant.
Results: - Among 373 mothers, the prevalence of adverse birth outcomes was 33.2%, 95% CI
(28.2 -38.3%). Variables associated with adverse birth outcomes were: Rural residence (AOR =
1.8, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.05), primiparas and Grand multiparas (AOR = 6.4, 95% CI:1.94,20.82), and
(AOR=3.7, 95% CI: 1.13,12.01) respectively, Induction of labor (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI:
1.79,5.50), (Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count) syndrome (AOR=7.8, 95%
CI: 4.29,14.29) and lack of ANC follow up(AOR=6.1, 95% CI(2.80, 13.03) were risk factors for
adverse birth outcomes.
Conclusion and Recommendation: - Women with preeclampsia and eclampsia were at higher
risk of developing adverse birth outcomes. Therefore, healthcare providers should strengthen
prevention, early diagnosis, and prompt management of preeclampsia/eclampsia to reduce adverse birth outcomes by encouraging antenatal follow-up.
