Effects of hypertensive disorders on the outcome of pregnancy: early findings of maternity care monitoring (MCM) in Debrecen, Hungary.

Abstract

Debrecen is one of the original testing sites of MCM. This report focuses on all single births having occurred from January, 1978 to June, 1980 (N = 8818). Pregnancy outcome associated with maternal Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy (HDP) shall be set against pregnancy outcome among women with No Primary Antenatal Conditions (Control), the respective sample sizes being N = 540 (HDP) and N = 5, 472 women. The findings are given in four sections: (1) Occurrence of HDP; (2) Characteristics other than presence/absence of HDP; (3) Reproductive experience prior to current delivery; and (4) Maternal and infant outcome for the current delivery. A specific look is also given at smoking during current pregnancy. Special attention is called for the primordial importance of prenatal visits, preventive care and proper obstetrical management. The role of the MCM early warning system is emphasized and broader use of the system and rationale is suggested for objective international and intranational comparisons to improve pregnancy outcome for both the mother and infant.