Factors associated with blood pressure check-up during pregnancy among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: an analysis of data from 2015—16 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicators Survey

Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy (HDP) is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity amongst pregnant women in the world. Blood pressure check-ups during pregnancy are one of the strategies used to identify hypertensive disorders, hence timely management. Little is known about the factors associated with blood pressure check-ups in Tanzania.

The study used data from 2015—16 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicators Survey (2015—16 TDHS—MIS). A total of 6924 women of active reproductive age from 15 to 49 were included in the analysis. Both univariate and multiple regression analyses were used to determine the association between early antenatal booking and maternal services utilization.

The prevalence of blood pressure checkups during pregnancy was 72.17% at 95% confidence interval of 71.1–73.2%. Factors associated with uptake of blood pressure check-ups were; timely antenatal booking, AOR = 1.496, CI = 1.297–1.726, p < 0.001, late booking was a reference population, age group [> 34 years, (AOR = 1.518, CI = 1.149–2.006, p = 0.003)] with < 20 years used as a reference population, wealth index [middle income, (AOR = 1.215, CI = 1.053–1.468, p = 0.008) and rich, (AOR = 2.270, CI = 1.907–2.702, p < 0.001)] reference population being poor; education level [primary education, (AOR = 1.275, CI = 1.107–1.468, p = 0.001); secondary education, (AOR = 2.163, CI = 1.688–2.774, p < 0.001) and higher education, (AOR = 9.929, CI = 1.355–72.76, p = 0.024)] reference population being no formal education; parity [para 2–4, (AOR = 1.190, CI = 1.003–1.412, p = 0.046) with para one used as a reference population and zones [Unguja Island, (AOR = 3.934, CI = 1.568–9.871, p = 0.004), Pemba Island, (AOR = 5.308, CI = 1.808–15.58, p = 0.002)] and Mainland Urban being the reference population.

The study revealed that rural dwelling pregnant women had higher chance of not getting their BP checked. It was also revealed that maternal age, education level, place of residence, wealth index and timing of ANC services were significantly associated with blood pressure check-ups. The study recommends the need to explore significant factors associated with utilization of available free reproductive health services across all public health facilities. It also recommends the need to address prioritized intensive awareness programs and behavioral change interventions on the significance of BP check-ups among pregnant women of reproductive age.