Abstract:
Preeclampsia is a critical hypertensive disorder in pregnancy that significantly impacts maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The World Health Organization(WHO) recognizes it as a key direct factor in global maternal mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The disease is prevalent in Sub-SaharanAfrica, posing a considerable threat to women and their infants. In resource-limited settings like Narok County, Kenya, delays in accessing healthcare and gaps inscreening and treatment have worsened the impact of preeclampsia. This study aimed to identify the key factors associated with preeclampsia and to evaluate itsimpact on mothers and their newborns in Narok County. Using a hospital-based cross-sectional design, medical records of mothers who delivered betweenJanuary and December 2023 at Narok County Referral Hospital were systematically reviewed with a standardized data extraction tool. Binary logistic regressionwas utilized to identify factors associated with preeclampsia, while univariate analysis characterized maternal and perinatal outcomes. Key findings indicatedthat rural residence (OR = 4.50, p = 0.054) and multiple gestation (OR = 3.46, p = 0.043) were significantly associated with preeclampsia. The majority of cases(88.2%) were classified as severe and commonly presented with symptoms such as severe headache and epigastric pain. Cesarean section was performedin17.6% of cases, maternal complications occurred in 58.8%, and maternal mortality was reported at 5.9%. Common maternal complications included HELLPsyndrome and eclampsia. Neonatal outcomes revealed 27.8% stillbirths, 50% low birth weight, and 44.4% low Apgar scores, with neonatal complications anddeaths reported in 7.7% and 5.6% of cases, respectively. In conclusion, preeclampsia significantly compromised maternal and neonatal health in Narok County, with rural residence and multiple gestations emerging as key risk factors. These findings underscore the imperative to enhanc
