Several risk factors including hypertension are common complications of pregnancy with preeclampsia particularly associated with substantial risk to both the mother and fetus. This cross-sectional study involving quantitative approach was conducted in Same District Hospital in Tanzania. Data were collected from all pregnant women in the hospital using questionnaires. Respondents' knowledge on maternal mortality regarding preeclampsia included those who had no knowledge 60(60%), and those who had knowledge 40(40%). Most of the respondents had no knowledge of maternal mortality due to the complications of preeclampsia. The study revealed that 64(64%), had positive attitude towards maternal mortality due to preeclampsia prevention while 36(36%) had no response. About 68(68%) of the respondents could not access the health facilities saying that these health facilities were not affordable citing that the distance was too long. They reported no health facilities and services as well as insecurity while looking for health facilities/services and finally that there were few health workers in the health facilities meaning that patients could not be attended to on time. Furthermore, health workers harassed the patients and make them seek other alternatives when they are sick, while minority 32(32%) said that the health facilities were accessible, affordable and efficient. Medical history during prenatal care showed that 25% of the respondent had increased blood pressure more than 140/90 mmHg, but only 10% had breath issues. Laboratory diagnosis of the respondents revealed increased proteinuria (48%) and impaired liver function (7%). Respondents experienced 39% convulsion and 24% pulmonary edema. Overall, the study identified a few predisposing factors to preeclampsia/eclampsia among pregnant women. Also, most of the respondents were said to have no knowledge of eclampsia thereby increasing maternal mortality.
Ethnopharmacological relevance Priva adhaerens (Forssk.) Chiov., a wildly growing plant, is reported in central Uganda to be an effective traditional remedy for diarrhea. The objective of this study was to provide a scientific basis for the ethnopharmacological utility of this plant whose aqueous leaf and shoot extract was evaluated for acute toxicity and antidiarrheal activity using a murine model. Materials and methods Acute toxicity of the aqueous leaf and shoot extract was assessed after determining the major phytochemicals present in the extract. The aqueous leaf and shoot extract was assayed against castor oil-induced diarrhea, transit time, and enteropooling, in comparison to loperamide, a standard drug. Results The oral LD50 value obtained for Priva adhaerens aqueous extract was greater than 5000 mg/kg in rats; the aqueous leaf and shoot extract possessed several important phytochemicals. Furthermore, the aqueous extract significantly, and dose-dependently, reduced frequency of stooling in castor oil-induced diarrhea, intestinal motility, and castor oil-induced enteropooling in rats. Conclusion This murine model shows that it is relatively safe to orally use the aqueous leaf and shoot extract of Priva adhaerens . The aqueous extract contains phytochemicals that are active for the treatment of diarrhea in a rat model.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.