Measurement of blood loss at childbirth and postpartum.
OBJECTIVE
To accurately measure blood loss during childbirth in a developing country.


METHODS
The alkaline hematin technique was used to quantify blood lost during delivery and 24 h postpartum in 158 women in Pemba Island, Zanzibar.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
This study may prompt further investigation, as no comparable data exist for developing countries where maternal mortality is high and severe anemia prevalent.
Kavle
J A
JA
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Baltimore, USA.
Khalfan
S S
SS
Stoltzfus
R J
RJ
Witter
F
F
Tielsch
J M
JM
Caulfield
L E
LE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006427:Hemin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007749:Labor Stage, Third / Q000097:blood*; D036801:Parturition / Q000097:blood*; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013636:Tanzania
D006427:Hemin