Fetal outcome of antepartum and intrapartum eclampsia in Aba, southeastern Nigeria

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fetal outcome of antepartum and intrapartum eclampsia. All cases of antepartum and intrapartum eclampsia managed at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria, between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2007 were retrospectively analysed. Of the women who were delivered in our hospital over the period studied, 0.80% had ante- or intrapartum eclampsia which started mostly outside the hospital: 85.4% were unbooked; 62.5% nulliparous; and 62.5% aged less than 30 years. Forty-eight babies were delivered by the eclamptic mothers. All of the fetuses were delivered in the last trimester: 68.8% of the fetuses were preterm; and 58.7% had a low birthweight. Stillbirths occurred in 60.4%; 8.3% suffered severe birth asphyxia; and 70.9% were delivered vaginally. Sustained education of pregnant women on the need for early booking and regular antenatal visits is recommended.