An Innovative Project to Provide Better Information and Support

Tension’Elles is part of the European JACARDI program. This health literacy* project aims to collaboratively develop, test, and evaluate an intervention to improve affected women’s understanding of cardiovascular risks, and more specifically: 

• the proportion of women who received information about their cardiovascular risk following a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder;
• the proportion of women receiving medical and blood pressure monitoring;
• the adoption of a healthier lifestyle likely to reduce this cardiovascular risk.

*Health literacy is the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and use health information.

An intervention co-developed with healthcare professionals and women

This project, co-developed with healthcare professionals and women, proposes actions that complement standard care in order to strengthen prevention and personalized support for these women in maternity wards and partner maternal and child health (MCH) centers.

Proposed actions for healthcare professionals:

• training on postpartum follow-up for women who have had a hypertensive disorder. 

Proposed actions for affected women:

• Information and awareness-raising:
  • an informational brochure in French, English, and Arabic explaining cardiovascular risks and preventive measures;
  • an awareness-raising poster for healthcare professionals to inform expectant and/or new mothers at healthcare facilities (maternity wards, maternal and child health centers, etc.).
• Personalized follow-up:
  • adopting a healthy lifestyle to reduce cardiovascular risk: quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol, walking, and eating a balanced diet;
  • gradual resumption of physical activity and exercise after childbirth;
  • managing the “baby blues”: it is recommended to discuss this with your partner, friends and family, or a healthcare professional (primary care physician, maternal and child health professionals) or during the postnatal checkup. 
• In cases of postpartum hypertension (HTN):
  • frequent blood pressure monitoring;
  • a specialized medical consultation within 2 months of childbirth to assess the necessary blood pressure monitoring and screen for potential complications: hypertension, diabetes, kidney failure, etc.;
  • prescription and adjustment of antihypertensive medications compatible with breastfeeding;
  • screening for complications. 
• For women planning a future pregnancy:
  • information on the risk of recurrence of hypertensive disorders;
  • the importance of planning future pregnancies with appropriate medical follow-up;
  • prescribing low-dose aspirin to prevent the risk of preeclampsia, as advised by a doctor.