Prevalence, related factors and maternal outcomes of primary postpartum haemorrhage in governmental hospitals in Kabul-Afghanistan

BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence, related factors and maternal outcomes of primary PPH in governmental hospitals in Kabul Afghanistan. METHODS: An observational study was designed to determine the prevalence, related factors and maternal outcomes of primary PPH in governmental hospitals in Kabul-Afghanistan. The population of this study consisted of all women who gave birth to a child between August and October 2018. The structured checklist was used to collect the data from patients who were suffering from primary PPH. RESULTS: Among the 8652 women who were observed, 215 (2.5%) of them suffered from primary PPH and 2 (0.9%) of them died under caesarean section. The most common related factors of primary PPH were uterine atonia (65.6%), previous PPH (34.9%), prolonged labor (27%), genital tract trauma (26.5%), and induction of labor (20.5%). The most common maternal outcomes of primary PPH were respiratory failure (7%), hysterectomy (6%), and hypovolaemic shock (5.1%). CONCLUSIONS: According to our findings, the major cause of postpartum bleeding was uterine atonia. Therefore, postpartum care of women is essential, especially for those with previous PPH and prolonged labor that require more attention.