Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of headache among a selected group of pregnant women residing in the Central region of Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and December’ 2023 targeting pregnant women who were receiving prenatal care at Primary Healthcare Centers located in the Central region of Saudi Arabia. A sample size of 400 pregnant women was found appropriate employing a convenience sampling technique. The data were gathered by administering a systematic questionnaire that encompassed inquiries regarding demographic attributes, obstetric background, and the kind of headaches.
Results: The current study included 400 pregnant women with mean age of 28.7 years (SD = 4.1). Among the participants, prevalence of headache during pregnancy was 39.5% (n = 158). The odds of experiencing headache during pregnancy were higher among older women [adjusted odds ratios (aOR) = 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-1.19], women with lower educational levels (aOR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.10-3.52), women with a history of headache before pregnancy (aOR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.60-4.05), women with two or more previous pregnancies (aOR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.23-3.64), and women in the second trimester of pregnancy (aOR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.21-3.47).
Conclusion: Headaches are an often-experienced issue among pregnant women, which negatively impacts their overall well-being and ability to do daily activities.
Key words: Prevalence of headache, headache in pregnancy, pregnancy women, middle region.
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