Examining the Treatment of Preeclampsia Among Women Receiving Care in a Rural Clinic Using the American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists' Guidelines

The United States (US) has the highest maternal and infant mortality rates among developed countries. Yearly, 50,000 women experience life-threatening pregnancy-related complications including preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a major contributor to maternal morbidity with an incidence of 69.8 per 1,000 deliveries among African American women compared with 43.3 per 1,000 in white women. African American women are dying from childbirth complications more than any other racial group, Purpose: The purpose of this DNP project was to examine the maternal care of women diagnosed with preeclampsia using the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Guidelines. Methods: A retrospective descriptive design was used to examine electronic medical records of women with a diagnosis of preeclampsia (gestational-induced hypertension [GIH])) using an assessment tool created by the PI. ACOG guidelines were used to examine the preeclampsia treatment plan. Results: Sixteen electronic medical records (EMR) of women were examined that included, including 7 African American, 3 Hispanics, and 6 Whites, 16-40 years old. Seventy-one percent of African American women (n=5) were diagnosed with GIH, chronic hypertension, or elevated blood pressure; one-hundred percent of the Hispanic women (n=3) were diagnosed with GIH; 50% of white women (n= 3) had a diagnosis of GIH. Fifty-six percent of the women (n= 9) were prescribed low-dose aspirin & antihypertensive therapy. Conclusion: This project indicates that preeclampsia may occur in various groups. Treatment for preeclampsia based on the ACOG guidelines may not be followed for all patients with preeclampsia. More work is needed to ensure that evidence-based practice guidelines are used for patients with a diagnosis of preeclampsia