Preeclampsia rates in minority communities shed light on the social roots of maternal health disparities
Preeclampsia rates are rising most significantly in contexts with the greatest social, political and economic insecurities. These factors will almost certainly put more and more people in socially marginalised communities at risk for adverse maternal health outcomes
In November 2020, Lupe, a participant in a study on emotional distress and maternal health in El Paso, Texas, experienced vision disturbances that led her to seek emergency care. Her blood pressure reading of 167 over 98 was significantly higher than her ideal 115 over 70 from her first prenatal visit, resulting in a diagnosis of preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and potential organ damage.
Timely medical intervention prevented Lupe's symptoms from worsening. Preeclampsia, a leading cause of maternal mortality globally, can progress rapidly to severe conditions including brain hemorrhages, cardiac events, organ damage, and seizures. The study, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, documented a nearly 25% prevalence rate of preeclampsia among 176 Latinas who utilized publicly funded prenatal care in El Paso, compared to a national rate of around 8%.
El Paso, a predominantly Latino city with high poverty rates, serves as a key site for understanding the impact of social inequities on preeclampsia risk. Contributing factors include socioeconomic insecurity, past exposure to stressful life events, mental health symptoms, racism, and discrimination. The study emphasizes the heightened risks faced by populations enduring multiple, compounded hardships, particularly during times of political and economic turbulence.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
