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Hypertension in pregnancy--a major hospital cause for concern
K Mahomed1, S Mudzamiri, J Munetsi
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe Medical School, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Objective:
To document the contribution made by hypertensive disease of pregnancy on maternal and foetal outcome in order to suggest possible changes in management.
Design:
A descriptive study.
Setting:
Harare Hospital-a tertiary referral hospital in Zimbabwe.
Subjects:
Records of all women seen in the Unit were reviewed on a daily basis by one research fellow.
Main Outcome Measures:
Predefined events related to maternal and foetal outcome.
Results:
A total of 354 women out of 4,846 cases reviewed were admitted for hypertensive related problems. Seven hundred and thirteen women were admitted to the antenatal ward, 39.8% because of hypertension; 55.6% were multiparous. Hypertensive women stayed in the antenatal ward for a mean of 7.9 days and gestation on admission was over 32 weeks in 64.4% of cases. Low birthweight, preterm labour, perinatal and maternal mortality and all measures of short term perinatal morbidity were significantly increased in the hypertensive group.
Conclusion:
The results clearly demonstrate the reproductive health issues associated with hypertension in pregnancy. The discussion focuses on methods to improve the management of these women.