Maternal and fetal outcome in patients with eclampsia at Murtala Muhammad specialist Hospital Kano, Nigeria

Background/Objectives: Eclampsia is a major contributor to maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. It is much more common in developing countries like Nigeria where presentation is usually late and resources are scarce. The staggering figures of maternal death (46%) reported by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON) in 2004 moved the Kano State government to initiate programs that will reduce maternal mortality in the state. The objectives of this report were; 1) to determine the prevalence of eclampsia at Murtala Muhammad Specialist hospital (MMSH) Kano between April 2008 and May 2009; 2) to determine maternal and fetal outcome in eclamptic patients admitted to MMSH Kano between April 2008 and May 2009.

Methods : Case records of all patients admitted to MMSH between April 2008 and May 2009 were retrieved and analyzed using Epi-info version 3.2.2 April 2004 (CDC Atlanta, USA). Information extracted includes demographic data, maternal and fetal outcome. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: There were 688 eclamptic patients admitted and 13 943 women delivered during the study period giving a prevalence of 5% of total deliveries. One hundred and twenty six women died giving a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 904/100 000, among them 36 were eclamptics. The perinatal mortality rate for the eclamptics was 132/1 000. 81.4% of the women were primigravidas and majority (82.2%) were at term. Almost 83.3% presented within 12 hours of the onset of the fits and nearly half (44.9%) had their convulsion before the onset of labor.

Conclusion: The incidence of eclampsia is 5% of total deliveries. Delay in presentation is associated with poor outcome.