Severe pre-eclampsia at the Central Women's Hospital

ABSTRACT

A study on hypertensive diseases in pregnancy was carried out at the Central Women's Hospital between December 1985 and November 1986. The patients were interviewed, examined and followed up according to a prepared proforma. There were 119 cases of severe pre-eclampsia, 58 cases of pre-eclampsia, 61 cases of gestational hypertension and 21 cases of eclampsia. Among the cases of severe pre-eclampsia, the majority40.3 per cent were in the 25 to 34 age group, 38.6 per cent were promigravidae. Most of them were house-wives. The majority were of low educational status. Regarding their income, 75 patients (71.3 per cent) had a family income of less than five hundred kyats. There was a higher rate of intervention, the caesarean section rate being 21 per cent. Regarding the risk of association between fetal complications and maternal socio-biological parameters, multigravidae or those from a lower income group had intra-uterine fetal death more often (p < 0.5). Mothers from a lower educational status were higher risk groups for delivery of low birth babies. (p < 0.5).