Saving lives through interventions that address pre-eclampsia

In this Research Highlight, Professor Joel Singer outlines how the Gates Foundation-funded Community Level Interventions for pre-eclampsia (CLIP) cluster randomized controlled trial aims to save lives through community-level interventions that address pre-eclampsia, a condition that occurs in pregnancy.

Dr. Singer is part of a consortium involved in this study led by Dr. Peter von Dadelszen, with Associate Professor Hubert Wong and Dr. Singer as the methodologic/statistical co-leads.

Purpose of project:

Professor Joel Singer

Pre-eclampsia is a condition that occurs in pregnancy which can result in high blood pressure, shortness of breath due to fluid in the lungs, and impaired liver function. It remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. This is largely due to ‘three delays’ in maternal care: diagnosis of the condition (triage), getting to a facility to treat the condition (transport), and appropriate treatment of pre-eclampsia (treatment.)

The objective of my project is to reduce pre-eclampsia-related, and all-cause, maternal and perinatal mortality and major morbidity by 20% or more in women by implementing evidence-based care in the community that addresses these ‘three delays’ in maternal care. This will include offering appropriate treatment and referral to a Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care facility when needed.

Location of project:

India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Mozambique

Scope of project:

About 68,000 participants

Why is your research important?

The purpose is reduce maternal and perinatal mortality with known effective interventions. That is, we aim to save lives through evidence-based interventions in the community that address pre-eclampsia and other conditions that occur around pregnancy and birth. The challenge is to implement these interventions in diverse environments with a variety of differing barriers.

What do you hope your research will achieve? How will it change people’s lives?

If the intervention proves to be effective, it will likely result in country-wide adoption. This would result in huge gains in both maternal and perinatal health.

What is the current stage of the project?

We are at the analysis phase.

How will the results be used?

The results will be used to inform community health practice for pregnant women in low and middle income countries.

Photo credit: Pexels/Pixabay

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