Eclampsia: a continuing problem in developing countries.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether improvement in antenatal services over the years 1980-1990 led to a decline in the incidence of eclampsia in a third world setting.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of all eclamptic patients seen during the years 1980 and 1990 at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa.


RESULTS
The incidence of eclampsia in 1980 was 2.8/1000 deliveries and 6/1000 deliveries in 1990. There was a slight decline in maternal mortality from 12% in 1980 to 9% in 1990.


CONCLUSIONS
Eclampsia remains a continuing problem in developing countries despite improvements in antenatal care and facilities. In this retrospective analysis, a decline in maternal mortality has been demonstrated in spite of an increase in the prevalence of eclampsia.
Moodley
J
J
MRC/UN Pregnancy Hypertension Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Congella, Natal, South Africa.
Daya
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008428:Maternal Mortality / Q000639:trends; D009017:Morbidity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology