GOLD Learning Speakers

Pre-eclampsia, a complex hypertensive disorder of pregnancy is the second leading cause of global maternal mortality affecting about 8% of pregnancies. Although there are more positive outcomes for women who develop pre-eclampsia in Europe, North America and Australia, there are far more devastating consequences in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC’s). To improve the outcomes and ultimately achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), effective care is recommended for all women who develop pre-eclampsia, and this should be based on high quality guidelines to facilitate prompt identification and management. As front-line maternity service providers, midwives are instrumental in reducing maternal and neonatal deaths from all complications including pre-eclampsia. Across the continuum of care, midwives have the potential to save over 30% of women who develop pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Depending on the setting, midwives may assess, diagnose, initiate, and coordinate care for women who develop pre-eclampsia within regulated practice frameworks and in agreement with international practice standards. This presentation will highlight the burden of pre-eclampsia and discuss the current care recommendations during the antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum periods. Practical application strategies in LMIC’s will be emphasized in the context of WHO’s quality care framework.