Experts Meeting Aims to Address Leading Causes of Maternal Mortality

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are among the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that at least 16 percent of maternal deaths in developing countries result from pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders, of which eclampsia is the primary cause. Pre-eclampsia, a multiple organ disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, usually precedes eclampsia, the occurrence of one or more convulsions during or after pregnancy. Without immediate and proper medical attention, a woman experiencing eclampsia may develop dangerous complications, such as acute heart failure or stroke, which usually leads to her death and that of the fetus. While a single, inexpensive dose of magnesium sulfate during pregnancy can protect the lives of mother and child from these conditions, magnesium sulfate continues to be underutilized in the developing world for a variety of reasons, including limited supplies of the drug and reluctance among providers to change their practices.

With the support of The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, EngenderHealth will host the Workshop on Magnesium Sulfate for the Management of Preeclampsia and Eclampsia, from June 26 to 27, 2007, at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom. At the workshop, global experts will discuss the challenges to introducing magnesium sulfate in developing countries to prevent preeclampsia and eclampsia and possible solutions. Participants include representatives from Ministries of Health, nongovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, and major pharmaceutical companies.

Based on the workshop’s discussions and recommendations, a report will be distributed with country strategies and action plans to ensure that magnesium sulfate is available and accessible to all women in need. Check EngenderHealth’s website in the coming months for the final report.