Women who survive preeclampsia in Northern Uganda describe lasting fear, weakness and unmet information needs

Women who survived preeclampsia and eclampsia at a public regional referral hospital in Northern Uganda reported that the conditions affected far more than their medical treatment, shaping their physical functioning, family life, economic activities, understanding of their condition and plans for future pregnancies. Those are the findings of a qualitative descriptive study conducted at Lira Regional Referral Hospital between March and May 2024, published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. Preeclampsia and eclampsia are major causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-resource settings, and the researchers set out to explore how women experience these conditions beyond the acute episode.

The study involved fifteen women who had survived clinically diagnosed preeclampsia or eclampsia and were within twelve weeks postpartum. Participants were purposively selected to provide variation in age, diagnosis, parity, education, occupation, mode of delivery, and pregnancy or labour complications. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted by trained researchers; the interviews were recorded, transcribed and translated as needed, and analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.

The participants’ experiences fell into four categories: fear and uncertainty after diagnosis, changes in physical and economic life, information needs during and after care, and expectations for future health and pregnancy. Women described feelings of physical weakness and dependence, disrupted family dynamics and limited engagement in daily activities. These accounts indicate that the impact of the conditions extended well past discharge from hospital, touching household roles and the ability to carry out everyday and income-generating tasks.

Information emerged as a particular pressure point. The researchers reported notable variations in the information provided during care, with many women expressing unmet needs regarding their condition and post-discharge care. In a qualitative study of this kind, such variation points to gaps in patient-centred communication and discharge education rather than measuring any specific clinical outcome, and the authors frame their recommendations accordingly.

Concerns about recurrence and future pregnancies persisted among the women, although some became more proactive about self-care and early antenatal care. The study’s conclusion highlights key recommendations including patient-centred communication, thorough discharge education, ongoing postpartum follow-up, access to essential medications and appropriate psychosocial support. The authors also call for future research to investigate tailored interventions for these needs in low-resource settings.

As with any qualitative descriptive study, the findings reflect the experiences of a small, purposively selected group at a single hospital and are not generalisable as prevalence or outcome estimates. Nevertheless, the study offers a structured account of how women in a low-resource setting experience survival from preeclampsia and eclampsia, and it suggests that responsive maternal and postpartum care should address communication, education, follow-up and psychosocial support alongside clinical treatment.

Subject of Research: Women's experiences of surviving preeclampsia and eclampsia at a regional referral hospital in Northern Uganda

Article Title: When pregnancy becomes a fight for survival: experiences of women surviving preeclampsia and eclampsia at a public regional referral hospital in Northern Uganda, a qualitative descriptive study

Article References: Madira, E., Nabasirye, C. K., Apili, F., Ukoha, W., Namukwana, B., Abeja, C. J., Achayo, V. C., Ekung, E., Ogadulla, R. N., Humphrey, B., Namutebi, D. A., Aneno, M., Awili, R., Ejang, M., Arach, A. A., Kumakech, E., Wondafrash, M., Auma, A. G., & Amir, K. (2026). When pregnancy becomes a fight for survival: experiences of women surviving preeclampsia and eclampsia at a public regional referral hospital in Northern Uganda, a qualitative descriptive study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-026-10144-x

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12884-026-10144-x

Keywords: preeclampsia, eclampsia, maternal health, qualitative research, Northern Uganda, postpartum care, Lira Regional Referral Hospital, patient education, low-resource settings, women's health, pregnancy, becomes