consultant gynaecologist, Dr. Bukunmi Kolade, on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capita, that high blood pressure and protein in urine were the commonest causes of maternal deaths.
High blood pressure and protein in urine during pregnancy is a condition known as pre-eclampsia, the News Agency of Nigeria reports,
Kolade, of the Vine Branch Medical Centre, Ibadan, said the condition does not show any symptom until its advanced stage.
He said: “This is one of the reasons it has become imperative for pregnant women to seek early antenatal care for regular medical checks and screening.
“It is important that every pregnant woman comes to the hospital to be tested, among other things for high blood pressure and protein in the urine during every antenatal clinic.
“There are many pregnant women who go about their daily activities without knowing they have this condition.”
Kolade said symptoms of a progressed pre-eclampsia included sudden weight gain, dizziness, swelling of the feet and legs, abdominal pain and decrease in urine output.
He said that there was no sure way of preventing pre-eclampsia.
However, the outcome could be improved with prompt management and recognition.
According to the gynaecologist, pre-eclampsia, if not properly managed and recognised, can progress into eclampsia, which causes a pregnant woman to convulse.
He said: “When convulsion sets in, mortality rate is between 40 to 50 per cent, which means out of every 10 persons that have it, four to five of them would die.
“It can also constitute damage to the baby,” he said,
Kolade said while there was no particular cause of pre-eclampsia, age, obesity, high blood pressure prior to pregnancy and pre-existing conditions like diabetes and sickle cell diseases could be contributing factors.
He said: “It is however, possible for a woman not to have high blood pressure before pregnancy but it might come up in pregnancy and until delivery, the pressure remains high.
“After delivery, the protein in the urine still has to be checked.
“So it all boils down to good medical care and structures.”
NAN.