Epidemiology and Management Outcomes of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy remain a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality in Nigeria, and their clinical management at tertiary level in the South East geopolitical zone warrants systematic evaluation. This study determines the epidemiology and management outcomes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Methods: A retrospective cohort study reviewed obstetric records of 320 women diagnosed with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy over a five-year period. Diagnosis, management protocols, maternal outcomes including eclampsia and HELLP syndrome, and perinatal outcomes including preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction were extracted. Results: Gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia were the most prevalent diagnoses. Maternal case fatality was associated with delayed referral from primary care. Magnesium sulphate was appropriately administered in the majority of eclampsia cases. Preterm delivery rates were high across all diagnostic categories. Conclusion: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Ebonyi State are managed with variable adherence to evidence-based guidelines, and delayed referral remains a mortality risk. Family medicine practitioners at primary care entry points must be proficient in early danger sign recognition and timely obstetric referral. Keywords: hypertensive disorders, pregnancy, maternal mortality, Abakaliki, eclampsia