Abstract:
Background: Although hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are the leading cause of poor perinatal outcomes in
Ethiopia, there is no study that shows the national prevalence. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the
national pooled prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy from studies conducted in different parts of the
country.
Methods: Databases; MEDLINE, PubMed, HINARI, EMBASE, Google Scholar and African Journals Online were
searched by using different search terms on HDP and Ethiopia. Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics
Assessment and Review Instrument was used for critical appraisal of studies. The analysis was done using STATA 14
software. The Cochran Q test and I
2
test statistics were used to test heterogeneity of studies. Egger’s test was used
to show the publication bias. The pooled prevalence of HDP and the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval
was presented using forest plots.
Result: Seventeen studies were included in this review, with a total of 258,602 pregnant women. The overall
pooled prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Ethiopia was 6.07% (95% CI: 4.83%, 7.31%). The
Subgroup analysis by region and year of study showed a higher prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region, 10.13% (95% CI = (8.5, 12.43)), and reduction in the rate of
HDP from 1990’s to 2010’s, 8.54% reducing to 5.71% respectively. The pooled prevalence of pregnancy-induced
hypertension (PIH) and preeclampsia/eclampsia alone were 6.29 and 5.47 respectively. Pregnant women ≥ 35 years
old are more likely to develop hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, OR = 1.64 (95% CI = (1.18, 2.28)). No statistically
significant difference was observed between HDP and younger maternal age (less than 20 years old); OR = 2.92
(95% CI = (0.88, 9.70)). There was no association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and number of
pregnancy, OR = 1.37 (95% CI = 0.78, 2.41)).
Conclusions: The prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is high in Ethiopia. The problem is more
common among older pregnant women (> 35 years old). Government and other stakeholders should give due
attention to an early screening of hypertension during pregnancy.
Keywords: Prevalence, Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, Preeclampsia, Eclampsia, Systemic review, Meta-
analysis, Ethiopia
