An epidemiological investigation of pre-eclampsia and elevated blood pressure among Kampuchean refugee women at Sakaeo Holding Center, Thailand.
An investigation was undertaken at Sakaeo Holding Center in Thailand to determine the cause for an increase in the frequency of pre-eclampsia and elevated blood pressure among Kampuchean refugee women. A review of the admission and delivery logs revealed an incidence rate of 12.6 per 100 deliveries from March to August 1982. A study based on review of antenatal records indicated that haematocrit levels were significantly lower in the second and third trimesters among cases. When other Kampuchean holding centres were visited, pre-eclampsia and elevated blood pressure cases were few, and haematocrit levels were substantially higher than at Sakaeo. After an iron therapy programme was instituted at Sakaeo, there was a decrease in the number of pre-eclampsia cases.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000150:complications; D001835:Body Weight; D002160:Cambodia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012036:Refugees; D013785:Thailand