Factors influencing pre-eclampsia/eclampsia outcomes in high-risk patients in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Severe pre-eclampsialeclampsia remains one of the major causes of maternal mortality in Zimbabwe. Based on this problem, factors associated with maternal mortality due to severe pre-eclampsialeclampsia were investigated in an effort to improve pregnancy outcomes in Zimbabwe. Cases and controls were selected from 318 obstetric records of patients with severe pre-eclampsialeclampsia to conduct a retrospective case-control study. (Cases referred to patients who were diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsialeclampsia and who died from these conditions while controls survived these conditions). No significant factors could be identified which influenced maternal deaths among women suffering from severe pre-eclampsialeclampsia. Magnesium sulphate was not routinely administered, as recommended internationally. Cases apparently received better reported care than controls. Recommendations based on this research report include improved midwifery education and in-service training, regularaudits of patients' records and changed policies for managing these conditions more effectively in Zimbabwe. This abstract was translated into English by the publisher or author.