Hypertension in women of reproductive age: a cross-sectional analysis of prevalence and risk factors across 21 low-income and middle-income countries using Demographic and Health Surveys (2013-2023)

Objective Women of reproductive age (WRA) in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear a disproportionate burden of hypertension, with limited pooled analyses exploring its prevalence and associated risk factors. This study investigates hypertension prevalence and key determinants among WRA in 21 LMICs.

Design Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Participants Nationally representative data were obtained from the Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 21 LMICs between 2013 and 2023.

This research focused on female participants aged 15 - 49 who were selected for blood pressure monitoring, resulting in a weighted sample of 818 325 WRA (36 970 pregnant and 781 355 non-pregnant). Primary outcome measures The primary outcomes were the prevalence of hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg) and the identification of individual, household and community-level risk factors associated with the condition.

Descriptive statistics of proportions between pregnant and non-pregnant women were assessed. Multilevel logistic regression identified individual, household and community factors affecting hypertension.