Abstract
Objective: To accurately measure blood loss during childbirth in a developing country. Method: The alkaline hematin technique was used to quantify blood lost during delivery and 24 h postpartum in 158 women in Pemba Island, Zanzibar. Result: Women were found to lose less blood during childbirth and 24 h postpartum than previously reported. Compared with laboratory values, nurse-midwives approximated blood loss accurately (mean difference, i.e., mean underestimation by nurse-midwives, 4.90 mL); however, their imprecision was greater for higher laboratory values. Conclusion: This study may prompt further investigation, as no comparable data exist for developing countries where maternal mortality is high and severe anemia prevalent.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 24-28 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics |
Volume | 95 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2006 |
Keywords
- Africa
- Alkaline hematin
- Blood loss
- Delivery
- Estimation
- Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology