Current State of Management of Severe Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia using Magnesium Sulphate in Different Health Facilities of Mid-Western Development Regions

Abstract

According to the Nepal Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Study (2009), pre-eclampsia/eclampsia is the second leading cause of maternal mortality in Nepal—accounting for 21% of all maternal deaths. For management of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (SPE/E), WHO has identified magnesium sulphate as the most effective and low cost medication. This global evidence-based practice is also the national medical standard in Nepal. Despite this, many health facilities in Nepal are not using this drug for the management of SPE/E. This study helps to explore in detail the current situation of SPE/E management using magnesium sulphate in selected health facilities of Mid Western Development Region (MWDR). To explore this situation in some peripheral primary and tertiary health facility, the Principal Investigator of this study worked to identify the current situation of SPE/E management using magnesium sulphate and strengthened its use in 10 different health facilities from MWDR. These health facilities were 5 hospitals—regional hospital, zonal hospital and district hospitals and 5 PHCCs, one PHCC from five districts. The study was conducted under the regional grant of Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) for MWDR.