Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy are considered to be common causes of maternal deaths worldwide. It affects about 10% of all pregnant women around the world (World heath Report, 2011). This disease condition includes chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension pre-eclampsia, superimposed pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Chronic Hypertension prior to conception or diagnosed before 20^th week of gestation. Preeclampsia is systemic disease with hypertension accompanied by proteinuria after 20^th week of gestation and eclampsia is defined as the occurrence of seizure. Severe hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥110 mm Hg. Without severe hypertension of all pregnancies 7 to 9% are complicated by hypertension about 1% of pregnancies are complicated by pre-existing hypertension 5 to 6% by gestational hypertension without protein urea (half of which presents preterm) and 2% by pre-eclampsia [1, 2, 3].

Study in Jeneva (Switzerland) in 2008, 358,000 women died during or following pregnancy and chilled birth almost all of these deaths 99% occurred in developing countries and most could have been prevented. Nearly 80% of maternal deaths are the five obstetric causes namely hemorrhage hypertension, sepsis, obstructed labor and complication of abortion.

Ppre-eclampsia and eclampsia contributes to 18% of the deaths the second after Hemorrhage as the most common cause of maternal deaths. Pre- eclampsia and eclampsia are associated with sever maternal perinatal morbidity like intra uterine growth retardation, premature delivery and early neonatal deaths. In Ethiopia they found albuminuria in 11.5% an abnormal diastolic blood pressure in 12.5%, where 2.9%, 9.2% were classified as pre-eclamptic and gestational hypertensive respectively. 52.3% were not receiving anti natal care services. Most maternal deaths are potentially avoidable. Studies have shown that antenatal screening for hypertension and proteinuria followed by close monitoring and treatment of pre--eclampsia reduced eclampsia related maternal mortality in by 48--68%[4, 5, 6, 7, 8].

Availability of magnesium sulphate for treatment of pre--eclampsia at health facilities and availability of skilled health personnel with knowledge and skills in managing hypertension is vital for prevention of hypertensive related deaths. Systemic screening of pregnant women during anti natal period for routine calcium supplementation for women at high risk of pre- eclampsia treatment of pre-eclampsia with magnesium sulphate and early delivery of women with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia all have been extensively studied and have potential to reduce the risk of maternal deaths 84% [9, 10, 11, 12].

Quantitative research approach was used for the present study

A Descriptive cross-sectional facility based study design from December 08, 2016 to June, 22/2017G.C. were employed.

At Gynecology Emergency Room in Addis Ababa city Government public Hospitals

All nurses working at Gynecology Emergency Room in Addis Ababa city Government public Hospitals during data collection period were considered study subjects.

All nurses who were found in Gynecology Emergency Room and doing their activities during data collection period was included in the study. Nurses who have disagree to participate, withdraw, annual leave, ill and student nurse at data collection period were excluded from the study.

All subjects from the selected government public hospitals

Since all subjects considered from the selected government public hospitals no sampling technique is used

Structured questionnaire with closed and open ended questions were used to gather the needed information from nurses. Questionnaire was prepared in English because they were no language barriers all were educated health personnel. Prior to the actual data collection, pre-testing performed in 10 % of the participant‘s from Ras Desta hospital. The participants for pre-tested were not include in the final study participants. Observational check list used to assess practice of nurses by reviewing charts in fife hospitals that have hypertension during pregnancy practice question focused on do nurses

Data quality material designed properly and supervision carried out on daily bases to check completeness and consistency both by the supervisor and by principal investigator to keep the quality of data. Pretest performed in 10% the tool prior to the actual data collection and modification was considered.

Data entry and analysis were performed using Epi info version 6 and SPSS version 20.0 for windows. The data was entered and cleaning was done. The generated data compiled by frequency tables, charts and graphs.

A total of 78 study participants were included in the study. The mean age of the respondents was 25.62 years in which 44(56.4%) of them were less than or equal to 25 years where as the rest were greater than 25 years. Fifty or 64.1% of them were females and seventy two (92.3%) were Bsc midwife nurses while only 4(5.1%) and 2(2.6%) were BSC nurses and diploma midwife nurse respectively.

Regarding experience of respondents, 52(66.7%) of them served for 1-5 years while, 22(28.2%), 3(3.8%) and 1(1.3%) of them served for less than 1 year, 6-11 years and greater than 11 years respectively and all of them attained their academics training in Ethiopia. However, fifty three (67.9%) of the study participants did not have any on-job training.

Based on the operational definition of this study, participants were given 34 yes‘or ‗no ‘questions and fifty four (67.9%) of them found to have adequate knowledge who scored > 72% [fig 1].

Level of knowledge

Figure 1: Level of knowledge towards pregnancy induced hypertension among nurses working in gynecology emergency room in selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa 2017(N=78).

Table 1: Questions to assess knowledge towards pregnancy induced hypertension among nurses working in gynecology emergency room in selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa 2017 (N=78).