Dietary Patterns and Hypertensive Disorders Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal and Delivery Care in Public Hospitals of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Purpose: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. Dietary pattern is one of the modifiable determinants of hypertension. However, there is a research gap on dietary patterns and hypertensive disorders among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify dietary pattern of hypertensive disorders of pregnant women attending antenatal and delivery care. Methods: Institution-based unmatched case control study was conducted among a total of 333 participants (111 cases and 222 controls). Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Principal component analysis was used to identify wealth tertile and cluster analysis was used to derive dietary pattern. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and variables with P-value <0.05 were declared as statistically significant. Model of fitness was tested using Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. Results: On multivariable analysis, plant source food based dietary pattern [AOR=0.36 95% CI: 0.15-0.82], balanced type of dietary pattern [AOR=0.24 95% CI: 0.11-0.51] and folate intake [AOR=0.17 95% CI: 0.06-0.48] were found to be significant protective factors from hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Previous history of pregnancy induced hypertension [AOR=3.76 95% CI: 1.67-8.37], twin pregnancy [AOR=3.69 95% CI: 1.52-8.96], history of abortion [AOR=2.37 95% CI: 1.10-5.12], presence of anemia at the first visit [AOR=7.12 95% CI:2.30-21.98], gestational diabetes [AOR=3.12 95% CI: 1.002-9.72] and highest wealth index [AOR=4.17 95% CI: 1.27-13.66] were found to be significant risk factors for hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Conclusion: Balanced food based dietary pattern and plant-based food pattern had direct protective relationship with development of hypertension during pregnancy. This implies the need for promoting consumption of balanced diets and plant source foods high in fruit and vegetables. Mothers with twin pregnancies, anemia at first visit, previous history of pregnancy induced hypertension, and advanced age groups should be prioritized.