The XXI International Society of Hypertension in Pregnancy meeting, São Paulo, Brazil – A global health perspective

Abstract

The 21st International Society of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) meeting was held in São Paulo, Brazil from 23 to 26 October 2016. The discourse at this Congress brought global maternal health into the foray among basic science and clinical research. In concordance with the United Nations sustainable development goals which warrant an integrated view to health with investments in adolescence and childhood, the research at Congress focussed on a 'life course' approach to maternal health -examining intergenerational effects of maternal obesity and hypertension on the behavioral and physical developments of infants. Bringing in research from the Global South highlighted inequities in treatment and management of women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, in addition to the challenges in adoption of recommendations generated in Global North. The evidence shared can serve as platform for further discourse on global maternal health and in generating accountability to close the 'evidence to policy' gap. KeywordsGlobal health, maternal mortality, ISSHP The 21st International Society of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) meeting was held in Sa˜o Paulo, Brazil from 23 to 26 October 2016. The meeting brought together 350 participants from 10 countries. It was fitting for this community of clinician scientists, basic science researchers, allied maternal health professionals, advocacy groups, and governmental organizations to meet in Brazil. Here, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 30-100/100,000 live births remains above that in highincome countries (530/100,000 live births), and hypertension remains a leading cause, in addition to both indirect and late causes of maternal death, that are of additional interest to obstetric medicine.1 Also, this was the ISSHP's first World Congress since the global community took stock of the Millennium Development Goal 5A, to reduce maternal mortality by 75% from 1990 levels, by 2015. Although the goal was not achieved in full, substantial reduction in MMR was achieved -a 45% reduction worldwide. The sustainable development goalsStating only one explicit goal for health among its 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), the United Nations has confirmed that improvements in health cannot be achieved in isolation. Rather, there is an inextricable link between improvements in health and wellbeing and each of the other 16 aspirational SDGs, such as those targeting poverty, hunger, and gender equality.2 This need for integrated action was addressed in the opening ceremony by Peter von Dadelszen, who highlighted that global burden of maternal health reflected inequity in human rights and showcased how steps towards promoting gender equity, reproductive health rights, nutrition and education of girls can avert maternal deaths and illness among vulnerable populations.This message of inequity was re-iterated in the opening ceremony by Shuchita Mundle, who presented the 'ecology of eclampsia' for women in Maharashtra, India. Dr. Mundle emphasized that the poor awareness of eclampsia...