Prevalence and Demographic Distributions of Pre-Eclampsia among Pregnant Women at Ho Teaching Hospital

Background: In Sub-Saharan Africa, pre-eclampsia remains a major health problem contributing to high rates of maternal mortality. Despite this condition having adverse effects on maternal and child health, its prevalence and associated risk factors are still significant, especially in developing countries including Ghana. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and demographic distributions associated with pre-eclampsia among pregnant women at the Ho Teaching Hospital. Methods: A facility-based retrospective study was conducted by reviewing available data or hospital records of pregnant mothers admitted to the labor and maternity wards from January 2018 to December 2020. All pregnant women who were diagnosed with pre-eclampsia within this period were included in the study. The data were collected using a structured checklist. Results: 5609 data on pregnant women from 2018 to 2020 were recorded. Out of the 5609 data recorded, 314 pre-eclampsia cases were recorded giving an overall prevalence of 5.6%. The yearly prevalence for 2018, 2019, and 2020 were 4.6%, 5.6%, and 6.6%, respectively. The most recorded pre-eclampsia cases were seen among women within the age group of 18 - 24 years. The data showed that 112 (35.7%) of the pregnant women who had pre-eclampsia were nulliparous. Pre-eclampsia-associated maternal and fetal complications were;preterm delivery 221 (70.4%), intrauterine fetal death 62 (19.7%), eclampsia 9 (2.9%), HELLP syndrome 5 (1.6%) and maternal death 17 (5.4%). Associated factors of pre-eclampsia were parity, level of education, and occupation (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed a rising trend in the incidence of pre-eclampsia over the years at the Ho Teaching Hospital. Parity, level of education, and occupation were found to be associated with developing pre-eclampsia.

Trends in cancer mortality in China from 2004 to 2018:A nationwide longitudinal study

Background:The long-term trend in cancer death in a rapidly developing country provides information for cancer prophylaxis.Here,we aimed to identify the trends in cancer mortality in China during the 2004-2018 period.Methods:Using raw data from the national mortality surveillance system of China,we assessed the mortalities of all cancer and site-specific cancers during the 2004-2018 period.The participants were divided into three age groups:≥65 years,40-64 years,and≤39 years.Changing trends in cancer death by gender,residency,and tumor location were estimated using fitting joinpoint models to log-transformed crude mortality rates(CMRs)and age-standardizedmortality rates(ASMRs).Results:Cancer death accounted for 24% of all-cause of death in China during 2014-2018.The CMR of all cancer was 150.0 per 100,000 persons.Cancer was the leading cause of death in the population<65 years.The six major cancer types(lung/bronchus cancer,liver cancer,stomach cancer,esophagus cancer,colorectal cancer,and pancreas cancer)accounted for 75.85% of all cancer deaths.The CMR of all cancer increased while the ASMR decreased during 2014-2018(P<0.001).Lung/bronchus cancer and liver cancer were the leading causes of cancer death in the population<65 years,accounting for 45.31%(CMR)and 44.35%(ASMR)of all cancer death,respectively.The ASMR of liver cancer was higher in the 40-64 years population than in the≥65 years population,in contrast to the other five major cancers.The ASMRs of liver cancer,stomach cancer,and esophagus cancer decreased although they were higher in rural residents than in urban residents;the ASMRs of lung/bronchus cancer,colorectal cancer,and pancreas cancer increased in rural residents although they were higher in urban residents than in rural residents during 2014-2018.Conclusion:Although the ASMR of all cancer decreased in China during 2004-2018,lung/bronchus cancer and liver cancer remained the leading causes of cancer-related premature death.Lung/bronchus cancer,colorectal cancer,and pancreas cancer increased in rural residents.