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Preeclampsia remains one of the most dangerous pregnancy complications in Kenya.[iStockphoto]
Preeclampsia remains one of the most dangerous pregnancy complications in Kenya, contributing significantly to maternal and newborn deaths. Health experts, however, emphasise that while the condition cannot always be prevented, most severe outcomes can be avoided through early antenatal care, timely diagnosis and close monitoring throughout pregnancy.
According to the UN Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, Kenya recorded about 58,200 deaths among children under five in 2024. The country is projected to miss the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing under-five mortality to 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030 and may only achieve it by 2049. By 2030, the rate is expected to remain at 34.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, highlighting persistent gaps in maternal and newborn healthcare that directly affect conditions such as preeclampsia.
At Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), clinicians report a steady rise in hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, with preeclampsia among the most common and severe.
