Coma in Mozambican gravidas: causes and perinatal outcome

Ninety-one consecutive cases of coma were identified among gravidas at Maputo Central Hospital. The commonest causes were eclampsia (70 cases), cerebral malaria (six cases), and meningitis (five cases). Fetal mortality in eclampsia was 23 per cent and maternal mortality 10 per cent. There was a markedly higher incidence of eclampsia during the colder months.