Quarter of all deaths of pregnant women in Pakistan are caused by high blood pressure

A study by Aga Khan University researchers has suggested ways to reduce burden of a leading cause of maternal deaths and disease in Pakistan, known as pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy-related disorder linked to high blood pressure. Up to a quarter of all deaths of pregnant women in the country are caused by high blood pressure. Yet, there is little awareness among the public and some healthcare providers of the importance of monitoring blood pressure as part of antenatal care practices. "There is no word for pre-eclampsia in prominent regional languages like Sindhi. Unlike other childbirth complications, signs of pre-eclampsia cannot be identified easily which limits the chances of early detection and leaves many pregnant women vulnerable to its dangerous complications" says Dr Rahat Qureshi, the study’s co-principal investigator in Pakistan and Associate Professor at the Aga Khan University.