Adamu et al., Gynecol Obstet (Sunnyvale) 2014, 4:2 DOI; 10.4172/2161-0932.1000205 Research Article Open Access Volume 4 • Issue 2 • 1000205 Gynecol Obstet (Sunnyvale) ISSN: 2161-0932 Gynecology, an open access journal The Perception of Patients’ Relations on the Cause of Eclampsia Adamu AN 1 *, Tunau KA 2 , Hassan M 2 and Ekele BA 3 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Abuja, Nigeria Abstract Introduction: Eclampsia is a major cause of maternal mortality especially in low resource setting. Limited data exists on the perception of the cause of this condition among relations of patients who suffered from it. The information may be relevant in reducing the overall burden of eclampsia and any measure or investigation that would assist in reducing the incidence would be worthwhile. Objectives: To determine what the relations of patients with eclampsia perceived as the cause of the disease and to 00 the ‘frst aid’ treatment given to patients with eclampsia at home before hospital care. Method: A prospective study conducted at the eclampsia ward of a tertiary hospital. Relations of patients admitted with eclampsia were interviewed within 24-48 hours of arrival using a semi-structured interview guide. Analysis was by the EPI INFO computer package. Results: One hundred and ffty nine (159) relations of 56 patients with eclampsia were interviewed, mean age was 43 years. Most of the relations had no formal education (80%; 127), 59% (N=75) attributed eclampsia to ‘iskoki’ (evil spirit) while 20% (N=32) had no idea of the cause of eclampsia. Only 6% correctly related eclampsia to elevated blood pressure. Of the 56 patients with eclampsia, 71% of (N=40 received ‘frst aid’ treatment in the form of ‘rubutu’ holy water; ‘hayaki’ and herbs orally. The case fatality in this study was 23%. There was no association between the use of home frst aid treatment and maternal deaths (p>0.05). Conclusion: Poor understanding of the aetiology of eclampsia exists among patients’ relations and this may have implication on the immediate care given to the patient. Public enlightenment campaigns to educate people on the cause and complications of eclampsia are necessary. *Corresponding author: Aisha Nana Adamu, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria, Tel: +234 80 35978715; E-mail: nazaimah@yahoo.co.uk Received December 20, 2013; Accepted February 06, 2014; Published February 12, 2014 Citation: Adamu AN, Tunau KA, Hassan M, Ekele BA (2014) The Perception of Patients’ Relations on the Cause of Eclampsia. Gynecol Obstet (Sunnyvale) 4: 205. doi:10.4172/2161-0932.1000205 Copyright: © 2014 Adamu AN, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Keywords: Eclampsia; Preeclampsia; Cause; Perception; First aid treatment; Traditional medicine; Maternal mortality Introduction Eclampsia is the occurrence of seizures in a woman with pre- eclampsia [1]. It is usually associated with poor maternal and foetal outcome [2]. It is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. In Nigeria, it is ranked amongst the frst three major causes of maternal mortality [3]. Eclampsia may be prevented by early detection and control of pre-eclampsia [1]. Pre-Eclampsia (PE) in its mild form is usually asymptomatic, and diagnosis would usually depend on early identifcation of clinical signs (elevated blood pressure) or laboratory features (proteinuria) through routine antenatal care. Poor utilization of antenatal care facilities, absence of necessary equipments such as sphygmomanometer and reliable laboratory services at health facilities have made it difcult to maximize routine antenatal care in the prevention of eclampsia in areas that are commonly afected by this condition [4-7]. Pre-Eclampsia in its severe form, however, is associated with some prodromal signs and symptoms. Perhaps people’s knowledge of these prodromal signs in the community may hasten identifcation of danger signs that would facilitate reporting to a health facility thereby resulting in a lower incidence of eclampsia [4]. Other factors such as fnancial constraints and cultural and religious beliefs may also play a role in shaping peoples’ response to symptoms and signs of illness and so infuence their decision to seek professional care. An understanding of this culturally patterned behaviour and perception of eclampsia is necessary in the design of appropriate intervention strategies to help reduce maternal mortality. Sokoto, where this study was undertaken, is inhabited mainly by Hausa-Fulanis of the Muslim faith. Female literacy level is very low, and early girl marriage is not uncommon [8]. Young age and poor literacy level make eclampsia a prevalent condition in this environment. Studies have shown that eclampsia is mainly a disease of the young primigravidae and educated mothers are more likely to recognize a problem, seek medical care, and report a problem [9,10]. Tis study aimed at determining what the relations of patients with eclampsia perceived as the cause of the disease, the use of ‘frst aid’ treatment at home on such patients before hospital care, and its efects on patient’s outcome. Materials and Methods Tis was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at the eclampsia ward of a tertiary hospital over a three-month period. Relations who accompanied the patients with eclampsia to the hospital formed the study population. In most instances more than three relations accompanied the patient to the hospital; out of these, three were selected by convenience sampling (based on whether or not they had witnessed the patient ftting) for each consecutive patient admitted with eclampsia over the study period. An average of 3 relations who had witnessed the eclamptic ft for every consecutive patient who was G y n e c o l o g y & O b s t e t r i c s ISSN: 2161-0932 Gynecology & Obstetrics