Epidemiological Profile of Maternal Deaths from Eclampsia from 2013 to 2022 in Brazil

Abstract

Background: Eclampsia is an acute and life-threatening pregnancy complication characterised by generalised tonic-clonic seizures, usually in a woman who has developed pre-eclampsia in the absence of any underlying neurological disorder. Aims: This study aims to analyse the characteristics of maternal mortality by eclampsia in Brazil. Methodology: The data was searched through the platform of the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) with studies published between 2013 and 2022. Maternal deaths were analysed by variables such as age, color/race, geographic region and causes of death due to eclampsia. The scientific research was carried out using death certificates and the Mortality Information System (SIM) in Brazil. Results: In total, 1,532 deaths from eclampsia were recorded between 2013 and 2022. The most affected age group was 20 to 39 years old, with 721 deaths (47.1%). With regard to ethnicity, the majority of women declared themselves brown, totalling 885 cases (57.8%). The highest frequency of schooling was between 8 and 11 years of study. As for marital status, 671 women were single (43.8%) and 410 were married (26.8%). Most maternal deaths occurred in hospitals, with 1,397 cases. Conclusion: The evaluation of the epidemiological profile of maternal deaths from eclampsia in Brazil from 2013 to 2022 showed an alarming scenario, despite variations in the rates over the years. The findings indicate that even with the efforts of public policies, eclampsia persists as one of the main causes of maternal death, highlighting deficiencies in prenatal care and in the implementation of prevention and control strategies. Thus, the research emphasises the need to intensify public policies aimed at maternal health, implementing effective health education strategies, early diagnosis and constant monitoring to reduce maternal mortality from eclampsia.