Risk factors for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the risk factors for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

DESIGN

A case control study.

SETTING

Mulago Hospital labour ward

SUBJECT: One hundread and fourty three women with severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and 500 women with normal delivery.

RESULTS

The predictors of severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia were: low socio - economic status (OR 7.6, 95%CI 3.9 - 26.9), chronic hypertension (OR 26.9, 95% CI 4.3-170.4), family history of hypertension (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.9), nulliparity (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.3) and delivery of male babies (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.3).

CONCLUSION

Severe pre- eclampsia is one of the main causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in Mulago hospital. The predictors of severe pre - eclampsia were chronic hypertension, family history of hypertension, low socio - economic status, nulliparity and delivering male babies. Health workers need to identify women at risk and offer them counseling and, those who develop pre - eclampsia be referred and managed in hospitals with expertise and facilities. Those who develop severe pre-eclampsia should be delivered immediately so as to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.