Lancaster L, Barnes RFW, Correia M, Luis E, Boaventura I, Silva P, von Drygalski A. Maternal death and postpartum hemorrhage in sub-Saharan Africa - A pilot study in metropolitan Mozambique.
Res Pract Thromb Haemost 2020;
4:402-412. [PMID:
32211574 PMCID:
PMC7086466 DOI:
10.1002/rth2.12311]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa is approximately 500 to 1000 per 100 000 births (vs. approximately 5-20 in developed countries). Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is deemed responsible for 30% to 50% of the deaths.
OBJECTIVE
To study PPH, risk factors, and mortality in metropolitan Mozambique to inform future studies and intervention strategies.
MATERIALS/METHODS
Retrospective cross-sectional data extraction from all charts available to us (n = 495) recording deliveries between January and June 2018 at Maputo Central Hospital. Data included age, maternal survival, HIV status, parity, delivery mode, complications, vital signs, laboratory values, and maternal/fetal data. PPH was determined by charted diagnosis, interventions for hemorrhaging, placental abruption, transfusion, or blood loss. Autopsy reports from all deceased patients (n = 35) were examined.
RESULTS
Median age was 29 years with 17% HIV prevalence. Risk factors for PPH (frequency, 12%) included parity (adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for 3+ versus nulliparity, 7.20 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.46-21.10), gestation length (AOR, 0.86; CI, 0.81-0.92 per week), and body temperature (AOR, 1.10; CI, 1.04-1.16 per 0.1°C). Maternal mortality was strongly associated with PPH (AOR, 5.22; 95% CI, 2.26-12.08) and HIV (AOR, 11.66; 95% CI, 4.72-28.78). Laboratory values (n = 241) were available from mothers experiencing complications (approximately 50%). Anemia (prevalence 54%) was a strong predictor of PPH with an inverse relationship between hemoglobin levels on admission (AOR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.50-0.77 per g/dL higher hemoglobin) and the probability of later suffering from PPH. Mothers who died following PPH had lower median hemoglobin (6.2 g/dL) than mothers who survived (9.2 g/dL). Protocols to estimate peripartum blood loss were not used; antifibrinolytics and/or cryoprecipitate were unavailable.
CONCLUSION
Postpartum hemorrhage is a serious problem even in metropolitan areas of sub-Saharan Africa, and anemia influenced bleeding and death substantially. To address this problem, it is critical to raise awareness and region-specific prevention and intervention protocols.
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