Community education and downward trend in maternal deaths due to eclampsia

ABSTRACT

To study the effects of Mother and Child Health programme on Maternal Mortality and morbidity due to eclampsia. Study of all the births recorded during January-December 1994 and cases of eclampsia. Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. 2579 births recorded during January to December 1994 which included 44 cases of eclampsia. Main outcome measures: To evaluate the number of cases admitted in Allied Hospital, recognition of avoidable factors and improvement of existing practices to reduce maternal mortality, morbidity due to eclampsia. During the study period total number of deliveries conducted in the department were 2579 which included 44 patients admitted with eclampsia. The eclampsia incidence was 1.7%, deaths due to eclampsia were three, maternal mortality being 9.0% which decreased from 20%, 17%, 14.2% and 10.3% FROM 1990-1993 respectively. Eclamptic patients from rural areas were 24 and urban areas twenty, which shows that eclampsia patients were now coming to the hospital as a result of community education programme by the MCHWA. Eighteen eclampsia patients were primigravida while 26 were multigravida quite contrary to the pattern send during 1990-1993. With effective community education programmes maternal mortality and morbidity due to eclampsia can be reduced considerably