Women in southern Nigeria with change in paternity do not have increased incidence of pre-eclampsia

Abstract

This was a prospective cohort study of women in their second pregnancies aimed at determining if there was a difference in the incidence of pre-eclampsia between those with changed paternity and those without change in paternity in an entirely black African population. Women in their second pregnancies receiving antenatal care between September 2006 and August 2007 were recruited into the study between 10 and 20 weeks' gestational age and followed up until 37 weeks' gestation. The main outcome measures included incidence of pre-eclampsia in relation to change in paternity at second pregnancy, incidence of pre-eclampsia in relation to duration of sexual cohabitation among those with changed paternity and inter-pregnancy interval. There was no significant difference in the incidence of pre-eclampsia between women who had changed paternity and those without change in paternity (3.5% vs 3.1%, p=0.835). The inter-pregnancy interval was also similar in both groups. The mean duration of sexual cohabitation was similar between women who had changed paternity that developed pre-eclampsia and those that did not develop pre-eclampsia (7.9+/-1.3 vs 7.5+/-2.1 months, p=0.531). It was concluded that Southern Nigerian women with change in paternity in their second pregnancies do not have increased incidence of pre-eclampsia.

Influence of duration of sexual cohabitation on the risk of hypertension in nulliparous parturients in Ibadan: A cohort study

“…There are few methodological differences between the study by Chigbu et al. 8 and this study especially concerning sampling and the use of multivariate analysis.…”

“…Findings from a recent study in South‐East Nigeria 8 was different on these factors. There are few methodological differences between the study by Chigbu et al.…”

“…Exposure to paternal antigens appear to play a role in preventing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 5 and several studies have been carried out to test this theory 6–8 . Previous abortions have been shown to protect those carrying a first pregnancy from hypertensive disorders and ‘dose–response’ relationship was demonstrated by Trogstad et al.…”

“…Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world and also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates 12 . Most studies conducted on hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Nigeria are mostly case–control studies and very few cohort studies, these cohort studies do not have large subjects recruited 8,13,14 …”

A systematic review of the treatment and management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Nigeria

“…The remaining papers tested the effect of maternal ethnicity, seasonality, past abortion and change in paternity, socioeconomic status and polygamy on a woman's risk of developing PE/E (Abubakar et al, 2009;Attahir, et al, 2010;Chigbu et al, 2009;Familoni et al, 2008;Okafor & Ezegwui, 2010;Olayemi et al, 2010;Olayemi, et al, 2010). All of these studies were specific and small but their findings indicate the potential need for further research into risk factors for PE/E.…”