Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes among Eclamptic Patients Admitted to Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania

Eclampsia continues to be a major problem, particul arly in developing countries such as Tanzania, cont ributing significantly to high maternal and perinatal morbid ity and mortality. We conducted a study to establi sh the incidence of eclampsia and the associated maternal and perinatal outcomes among eclamptic patients admitted to our center. A descriptive cross-sectional study of all women presenting with eclampsia was performed from June 2009 to February 2010. Seventy-six patients presented wi th eclampsia out of a total 5562 deliveries during the study period (incidence of 1.37%). Antenatal attendance was 96% among patients with eclampsia; however, only 45.21% and 24.66% were screened for blood pressure and proteinuria respectively. Maternal and perinatal case fatality rates were 7.89% and 20.73% respectively. The main factors contributing to maternal deaths were acute renal failure (10.5%), pulmonary oedema (10.5%), maternal stroke (8.8%), HELLP syndrome (50.9%), and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy (3.5%). Perinatal death s were caused by prematurity (42.9%) and birth asph yxia (57.1%). Forty-eight babies had low-birth weight ( 58.54%). The high incidence of eclampsia and its c omplications during this study period may indicate the need for earlier and more meticulous intervention at both th e clinic and hospital levels ( Afr J Reprod Health 2012; 16[1]:35-41).