The outcome of babies born from pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnancies at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

This dissertation presents results of a retrospective Study of 156 pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnancies at the obstetric unit of Kenyatta National Hospital during a two year period from 1980 to 1981. There were 167 babies delivered out of which 49(29.3%) died perinatally. A significantly high perinatal mortality rate was observed. The morbidity of these babies in terms of intra-uterine growth retartlation, low birth weight and asphyxia was also high. The factors that appeared to contribute a major role towards the unfavourable outcome of the pregnancies were severe toxaemia, early termination of pregnancy, high rates of vacuum deliveries and caesarian sections, inadequate antenatal care and low socio-economic status. Other factors that appeared to contribute a relatively lesser role were twin pregnancy,

foetal distress and neonatal septicaemia. Several recommendations are suggested that would improve the well being and survival of the babies from toxaemic pregnancies. These are, effective antenatal care, availability of properly trained medical auxiliaries, co-operation of the paediatricians and obstetricians and the long term efforts to raise the economic status of the . community. The need of a simple and effective drug regime is also stressed.