Awareness of eclampsia among rural tribal women of reproductive age.

BACKGROUND

Globally, eclampsia is the leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

The present community-based study was conducted among rural tribal women of reproductive age in remote villages of central India to determine their awareness of eclampsia and its likely impact.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analytic study included randomly selected 4500 tribal women, between 15 and 45 years of age, residing in 140 villages in the proximity of one village with a health facility (study center), and who were willing to undergo a personal interview. In-depth face-to-face interviews (each lasting 15-30 min) of study subjects regarding awareness, knowledge, practices, and perceptions about eclampsia were conducted using a predesigned tool completed by research assistants (not the subjects).

RESULTS

Of the 4500 women interviewed, the majority (62.4%) were 20-29 years old, minimally educated (40.6%), laborers (41.3%), and of a low socioeconomic class (40.8%). Of all the participants, only 35.9% were aware of eclampsia, associated events during pregnancy, labor, and the immediate post-delivery period; 81.7% of those who were aware understood about symptoms and signs like headache, blurring of vision, dizziness, swelling over the body, ad high blood pressure. Of all the women who knew about eclampsia, 73.9% were aware that the occurrence of convulsions during antenatal and postnatal periods was an emergency and required urgent management, whereas 88.4% were not aware that severe convulsions affected maternal and neonatal health seriously, only 38.2% knew that eclampsia was a preventable condition.

CONCLUSION

There was lack of awareness about eclampsia in many women and, of those who knew, some were not aware that it was dangerous. There is a need for awareness among women and their families of the disorder, its impact, and what action is needed in case it occurs.