Outcome of eclampsia at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife

Eclampsia is a serious obstetric complication with attending high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. There is need for periodic audit of our management of these cases so as to identify potential areas for possible intervention aimed at improving the management outcome of this pregnancy complication.

The records of cases of Eclampsia managed at the OAUTHC Ile-Ife between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 2003 were retrospectively analysed.

The incidence of Eclampsia was 0.91% of total deliveries. It was highest in teenagers and young adults who are less than 25 years (1.56%), who were carrying their first pregnancy (2.64%) and were unbooked (6.3%). Headache was the commonest symptom (100%), while hypertension and fever were the commonest signs being present in 75% and 20.2% of the patients respectively. Antepartum Eclampsia accounted for 56.5% of the cases and majority was delivered by emergency caesarean section. Maternal and perinatal mortality were 8.0% and 19.1% respectively.

Provision of good quality and widespread antenatal care, improving the capacities of the hospitals to handle emergencies and intensive care unit management of all cases of Eclampsia are measures that could reduce the burden ofEclampsia in this environment.