. I 296 moderate to severe iodine deficiency disorders ODD). All 4 provinces of Northern Mindanao (Region 10) are high-risk IDD areas. About 6 to 7 out of every 10 children am moderate lo severe f DD cases. The government's presci:-iption is to administer one capsule of iodi7..ed oil is given to all pregnant women in areas where goiter is endemic. The nurs. :e cau assess the pregnant woman's thyroid gland by palp. ;ition. The importance of this examination is based on the report that 30% of pregnant women have goiter (Safe Motherhoo d Survey. 1993) (21) Malaria is t11e 911> lending cause of morbidity among women (DOH ten leading causes of Morbidit y by Sex, 2004) In areas where malaria is endemic the health care provider gives 2 tablets of chloroquine phospate (250 mg /tablet) every week for the duration of the pregnancy. ln endemic areas, pregnant women are also provided,"vith long lasting impregnated nets (LLINs) as a protection EARLY DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY The nurse needs lo l1ave the skill in detecting the danger signs of pregnancy. Patients manifesting these signs need to be referred to the nearest facility or physician. Interestingly. the results oft'he stu<ly by A. DB on41 out of 79 provinces in the Philippines show that only 56. 6% of women were advised to go to specific public facilities (35. 4 %) and private facility (14. 7"/4) in case of pregnancy complications( 21 ). _ The rest were not adequately informed where they can go if they encountered pregnanc y complications Prompt detection and management vvill help in decreasing the chances for maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Specifically, the nurse needs to report vaginal bleeding, edema oft11e face and hands. headache, dizziness, blurred vision, pallor. In the prenatal check up, tl1e health care provider also takes the woman's fu. ndic height, temperature, blood pressure, weight, signs of urinary infection (pain and frequency in urination) and signs of eclampsi a especially starting the 20" week. The results of urinalysis are also reported for proper management in case of infection '. The blood pressure is the most sensitive sc1·eening test for diagnosing hyperte m;ive dis. orders in pregnancy \. vith a 71% sensitivity, 95% specificity and 40% predictive value for pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, labor and puerperium (Hall 1992, p. 22) (22) It is measured in ll1e same arm (at the hea11: level) and position during each visit_ Below is the classification of blood pressure for adults aged 18 years or older: (23) Dependent eaema is common in normal pregnancy ·while generalized edema is seen in pre-eclamps ia. Edema is best assessed on the face, bands and sacrum and taken in conjunction with blood pressure readings. Abnormal-findings warrant referral to the physician. 