Prevalence of non-communicable diseases and risk factors of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia in four local government areas in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and risk factors associated with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E) in women of reproductive age (WRA) in Nigeria.

Design: A cross-sectional survey was administered to the entire study population. In the point-of-care testing, physical and biochemical measurements were taken in a subset of the participants.

Setting: The study was conducted in the Ikorodu and Alimosho local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos and the Abuja Municipal Area Council and Bwari LGAs in the Federal Capital Territory.

Participants: Systematic random sampling was used to randomly select and recruit 639 WRA (aged 18-49 years) between May 2019 and June 2019.

Outcome measures: Prevalence of select NCDs (hypertension or raised blood pressure, diabetes or raised blood sugar levels, anaemia, truncal obesity and overweight/obesity) and risk factors associated with PE/E (physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol consumption and smoking).

Results: The prevalence of raised blood pressure measured among the WRA was 36.0% (95% CI 31.3% to 40.9%). Approximately 10% (95% CI 7.2% to 13.4%) of participants had raised blood sugar levels. About 19.0% (95% CI 15.3% to 23.2%) of the women had moderate or severe anaemia. Excluding WRA who were pregnant, 51.9% (95% CI 45.7% to 58.0%) of the women were either overweight or obese based on their body mass index. Approximately 58.8% (95% CI 53.8% to 63.6%) of WRA surveyed reported three to five risk factors for developing NCDs and PE/E in future pregnancies.

Conclusions: The study identified a high prevalence of NCDs and associated PE/E risk factors in surveyed women, signifying the importance of early detection and intervention for modifiable NCD and associated PE/E risk factors in WRA. Further research is necessary to assess the national prevalence of NCDs.

Keywords: Africa; Nigeria; Noncommunicable disease; diabetes; eclampsia; hypertension; maternal health; obesity; pregnancy; prevalence; risk; women of reproductive age.