Abban, H.A.2024-04-102024-04-102021-07http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/41507PhD. NutritionIntroduction: Preeclampsia/Toxemia (PE) is a genuine hypertension condition related with maternal and infant ill health and death during pregnancy. Preeclamptics as well as their babies/children develop health conditions including cardiovascular disease as well as growth conditions well along in life. In Ghana, prevalence of PE has been known to be as low as 2.5% in Ghana Police hospital and as high as 48.8% in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Most of the studies carried out on PE has been case control and hence do not have enough data on the possible exposures at the early stages of pregnancy which may have led to the developing of PE. Also only a few studies has been carried out on the predictors associated with preeclampsia. Objective: This current prospective cohort study sought to determine the factors at the various stages of pregnancy; ≤ 20 weeks gestation through 28 –32 weeks and during 6 weeks postpartum which may predispose the pregnant women to a potentially high risk for PE. Methodology: This was prospective cohort study involving 403 pregnant women who were recruited at ≤ 20 weeks gestation. Nonetheless, 21 participants dropped out between weeks 28 and 32, and 24 participants also dropped out at 6 weeks postpartum leaving 358 participants in the study. The study took place at the Ghana Police Hospital, Cantonment, and the University of Ghana Hospital, Legon, both in Accra. The entire study lasted for 21 months (May, 2018 – Feb.2020). Structured questionnaires that had been pre-tested were used to obtain information on the participants' backgrounds, lifestyle practices, gynecological factors, dietary factors, stress status, BMI, biochemical data (haemoglobin, proteinuria), clinical data (blood pressure), family history of chronic conditions, morbidities among other factors. The criteria used for potentially high risk for preeclampsia was having at least a systolic blood pressure of ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of ≥80 mmHg or oedema or proteiunuria. Background categorical variables were computed as frequencies and percentages, whereas continuous variables were enumerated as median (interquartile range; Q1, Q3) or means ± SD, as appropriate. The predictors of possibly high risk for PE were investigated using binary logistic regression and finally path analysis was run to determine the path way through which the predictors operate. Results: The age on average of expectant mothers is 31 ± 5 years, a greater number 194 (48%) of expectant mothers had attained tertiary education, median gestational age at first time ante natal booking was 14 (12, 17) weeks, Akan ethnicity was dominating 166 (41.0%) and 347 (86.0%) of the women were married. Prevalence of serum vitamin D and calcium deficiencies were 48.3% and 53.2% respectively with 34.0% being at a potentially high risk for PE. Predictors of potentially high risk for PE were the following; estimated pre – pregnancy body mass index (≥ 30 kg/m2) AOR = 3.6 (95% CI = 1.01 – 11.750) p value 0.040 and estimated pre- pregnancy weight (> 71 kg) AOR = 3.4 (95% CI = 1.250 - 12.703) p 0.019. From path analysis, path relationship for anthropometric indices (estimated pre – pregnancy BMI and estimated pre- pregnancy weight) and potentially high risk for preeclampsia shows a favorable and significant direct association (β = 0.519; t-value = 8.545; p-value = 0.001). Conclusion: Predictors of potentially high risk for PE among the participants were estimated pre-pregnancy BMI and estimated pre-pregnancy weight (weight measured at the first antenatal clinic). In contrast to findings of most studies, serum vitamin D and calcium deficiencies had no association with PE.enPreeclampsiaPregnant WomenAntenatal ClinicsHospitalsAccraThesis