Maternal death and postpartum hemorrhage in sub‐Saharan Africa – A pilot study in metropolitan Mozambique

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.