Antenatal factors associated with perinatal mortality among women with hypertension disorders in pregnancy at regional hospital in Kwazulu-Natal province in South Africa

Abstract

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), hypertension disorders in pregnancy are the leading maternal medical condition associated with high perinatal mortality in many parts of the world. Saving babies report-a triannual report in South Africa focusing on perinatal mortality also puts hypertension as the leading maternal condition associated with high perinatal mortality in South Africa. As per National Institute of Health (NIH) in United States of America (USA), aetiological processes involved in the development of hypertension in a pregnant woman are not well understood. This poses a challenge to predicting and preventing the onset of hypertension in a pregnant woman. It is against this background that proper antenatal management and monitoring of women with hypertension disorders and their unborn babies becomes crucial to reduce perinatal mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the antenatal factors associated with perinatal mortality in women with hypertension disorders in pregnancy at one of the regional hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa.