Severe Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia: Prevalence And Management Outcomes At Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital

ABSTRACT 

Background: In low and medium -income countries like Tanzania, the severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia disease complex continues to be a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, clinical presentations and management outcomes among all women admitted through the labour ward with obstetric conditions at Dodoma regional referral hospital during the study period. 

Methods: This was an observational, analytical and cross-sectional hospital based study. 

Analysis: Collected data were checked for any inconsistency, coded and entered into SPSS version 20.0 for data processing and analysis.  

Results: Out of all 384 pregnancy women who concerted during the study period, total of 75 women fulfilled the criteria for the severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia giving the prevalence 19.5%. No maternal death occurred during the study among women with the diagnosis, although several complications were recorded. Of these include: maternal stroke (2.8%), HELLP syndrome (8.6%), acute kidney injury (1.3%), abruption placenta (3.6%), convulsion (9.3%).Perinatal Still births related to severe eclampsia were 17.9% and those of eclampsia were13.9%  

Conclusion: Severe pre-eclampsia /eclampsia were diagnosed in 75 out of 384 women who attended and consulted for. Early diagnosis and treatment of patients with this condition may result to improved outcome in terms of management outcomes (Maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity).