**2. Materials and methods**

#### **2.1 Study site and design**

This case-control study was carried out at the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) located in the capital of Volta Region of Ghana between January and December 2016.

#### **2.2 Criteria for selection**

Pregnant women over the age of 18 with or without hypertension were included in the study (cases and controls, respectively). Pregnant women without dipstick

proteinuria and blood pressures less than 140/90 mmHg were assigned to the control group, whereas those with hypertension and proteinuria were assigned to the case group. Pregnant women with renal disease, diabetes, cancer, multigravida, and pregestational hypertension were excluded.
