Table 1 Characteristics of eclamptic patients who were admitted at Muhimbili National Hospital in 2008

Age group (years)

≤ 19

101

36 (35.6)

65 (64.4)

20-24

150

50 (33.3)

100 (66.7)

25-29

64

27 (42.2)

37 (57.8)

≥30

51

19 37.7)

32 (62.7)

Parity

0

202

69 (34.2)

133 (65.8)

1-2

137

51 (37.,2)

86 (62.8)

≥3

27

12 (44.4)

15 (55.6)

Marital status

Single

31

13 (41.9)

18 (58.1)

Married

161

62 (38.5)

99 (61.5)

Unspecified

174

57 (32.8)

117 (67.2)

Type of referral

Within MNH

32

6 (18.8)

26 (81.2)

Private hospitals

29

17 (58.6)

12 (41.4)

District Hospitals

277

103 (37.2)

174 (62.8)

Home

28

6 (21.4)

22 (78.6)

Timing of first fit

Antepartum

270

104 (38.5)

166 (61.5)

Intrapartum

25

8 (32.0)

17 (68.0)

Postpartum

71

20 (28.2)

51 (71.8)

Number of fits

1

94

26 (27.7)

68 (72.3)

2

123

40 (32.5)

83 (67.5)

≥3

149

66 (44.3)

83(55.7)

State of consciousness

Alert

199

56 (28.1)

143 (71.9)

Altered

167

76 (45.5)

91 (54.5)

Gestation age*

≤32 weeks

63

33 (52.4)

30 (47.6)

33-36

103

39 (37.9)

64 (62.1)

≥37

129

40 (31.0)

89 (69.0)

Last Hb level (g/dl)

> 8.5

313

115 (36.7)

198 (63.3)

≤8.5

53

17 (32.1)

36 (67.9)

Time taken to delivery†

≤12

166

40 (24.1)

126 (75.9)

12:01-24.00

82

35(42.7)

47 (57.3)

≥24.01

43

33 (76.7)

10 (23.3)

Mode of delivery

Vaginal

221

70 (31.7)

151 (68.3)

Abdominal

145

62 (42.8)

83 (57.2)