WHO recommendations on drug treatment for non-severe hypertension in pregnancy
Cochrane has been a non-governmental organization in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2011. WHO develops global health guidelines, which are of a high methodological quality and are developed through a transparent, evidence-based decision-making process. Ensuring there is an appropriate use of evidence within these guidelines, represents one of the core functions of WHO.
WHO has recently released recommendations on drug treatment for non-severe hypertension in pregnancy. The primary audience of this recommendation includes health professionals who are responsible for developing national and local health protocols (particularly those related to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, and nutrition for non-pregnant and pregnant women and adolescent girls), and those directly providing care to pregnant women and their newborns, including midwives, nurses, general medical practitioners, obstetricians, managers of maternal and child health programmes, and relevant staff in ministries of health, in all settings. It aims to help in increasing capacity in countries to respond to their needs on interventions before and/or early in pregnancy to prevent the risk of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, and to prioritize essential actions in national health policies, strategies and plans.
Cochrane is proud to have evidence from five systematic reviews from Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth contribute to these recommendations. Co-ordinating Editor of Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth, Zarko Alfirevic, says: "Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group is proud to have this involvement in this important piece of work and know these guidelines will be valuable to healthcare decision makers and those caring for pregnant women and their babies."
