Background: Eclampsia, severe form of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDsP), characterized by seizures, which may progress to life-threatening cerebral hemorrhage, HELLP syndrome, multi-organ failure also. It places women and babies at higher risk of adverse outcomes with severe maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality globally.

Objective: Community based study was conducted to know awareness of eclampsia amongst rural pregnant women. 

Material and Methods:
Study setting- Study was conducted in 140 villages around village with study headquarters.
Study sample- A total of 2,000 subjects, aged 15-45 years, and a minimum of 10 subjects from each village were randomly included.
Study design- This is an observational cross-sectional study.
After Institute's ethics committee's approval, information of awareness about eclampsia amongst pregnant women was collected by interviews at mutually convenient places, recorded using a pre-designed tool with some questions having yes/no answers, others short answers. 

Results: Out of 2,000 study subjects, 70.3% had availed antenatal care (ANC). More than half were aged 20-29 years, low economic class, and agricultural laborers. Irrespective of gestation, ANC received, mainly at Anganwadi- Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHAs), Primary Health Centre (PHCs), Sub centers (SCs), 61.1% were aware of possibilities of convulsions, 44% during labor, 32% during pregnancy, and 24% post birth. Age and parity were not significant factors, but education, profession, and economic status were significant. Some had awareness about consequences of convulsions like bleeding, severe morbidity, and death of baby. 72.1% of women had some awareness, knew prevention was possible, most by proper ANC and blood pressure control.

Conclusion: Even during pregnancy, around one-third women were unaware of possibilities of convulsions. Among those who were aware, most were oblivious about dangerous consequences, unaware of prevention of convulsions. Education and economic status had significant linkage with awareness. Community workers and nurses were sources of information in the majority. It is imperative to keep them in the net and mobilize individuals from communities for awareness of dangerous disorders like Eclampsia.