European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to identify and assess the significance of the neonatal outcomes of eclamptic mothers.
Methods: This prospective case control study was carried out in the Upgraded Department of Pediatrics, Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna, Bihar, India for 7 months. The study comprised newborn babies born to 120 consecutive mothers admitted with eclampsia or with pre-eclampsia but subsequently developing eclampsia along with those born to 120 consecutive non-eclamptic mothers (considered as control) with normal BP.
Results: The majority of eclamptic mothers were primigravida (87.5%), <20 years of age (62.5%), non-tribals (77.5%), having body weight of mean 43.02±5.36 kg, height of mean 147.51±5.87 cm, and socioeconomic status of Class IV (89.17%). There was no significant difference observed in respect of age, weight, height, religion, caste, parity, and socioeconomic status between eclamptic and control mothers and thus, the two groups were statistically matched. Neonates of eclamptic mothers were found to have mean body weight of 2.33±0.47 kg, mean head circumference of 32.24±1.88 cm, mean crown heel length of 46.12±2.87 cm, and mean ponderal index of 2.37±0.32. On the other hand, neonates of control mothers had a mean body weight of 2.51±0.26 kg, mean head circumference of 32.27±2.21 cm, mean crown heel length of 48.02±2.79 cm, and mean ponderal index of 2.36±0.39. In this study, outcome in newborns of eclamptic mothers was significantly more adverse (p<0.001) than in non-eclamptic mothers (75 vs. 47; odds ratio [OR]=3.151, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.752–5.636).
Conclusion:  Eclampsia is a serious risk to maternal health and fetal viability and is one of the important factors responsible for maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.