One year survey of maternal mortality associated with eclampsia in Dhaka Medical College Hospital

Data was collected prospectively from 763 eclamptic patients hospitalised at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Comparisons were made between the patients that died and survivors based on determinants already known to be important. The cause of death was taken from the clinical history. The 'Case fatality rate' was 14.7%. The principle mortality risk factors were age, parity, number of convulsions and time between onset of convulsions and admission to hospital. Less than 10% in both groups had received antenatal care. The hospital mortality rate was significantly higher than that found in the Collaborative Eclampsia Study. Urgent interventions are required to increase public awareness of the need for antenatal care, to raise the level of understanding and improve attitudes and practice in relation to eclampsia.