Impact of Pre-pregnancy Nutritional Status on the Incidence of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension among Rural Women of Punjab: A Comparative Study

Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, especially in India. Pre-pregnancy weight and BMI are increasingly recognised as modifiable risk factors that predispose women to PIH. This comparative study involved 60 antenatal women (normotensive-30 and hypertensive-30) attending primary healthcare clinics. Hypertensive antenatal women had significantly advanced age (30.3 ± 4.0 vs. 26.03 ± 3.7 years), with a markedly higher prevalence of overweightobesity (60% vs. 20%). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly elevated in the PIH group (150.7 ± 11.4 mmHg and 96.8 ± 5.96 mmHg) compared to the normotensive group (116.0 ± 9.3 mmHg and 78.5 ± 6.5 mmHg). While socioeconomic differences were modest, a higher percentage of hypertensive women were employed and better educated. The study underscores the importance of imparting nutrition awareness among women before conception and advocates for community mobilisation strategies delivered via local health workers to mitigate PIH risk.