Reduction of maternal mortality: the need for voluntary blood donors.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between maternal mortality and availability of blood for transfusion at the country level in Latin American and Caribbean countries.


METHODS
The association of blood availability with maternal mortality, expressed either as national maternal mortality ratio or proportion of maternal deaths due to hemorrhage, in selected Latin American and Caribbean countries was analyzed by non-parametric methods.


RESULTS
An inverse correlation was found between blood availability and both maternal mortality ratio (p<0.002) and proportion of deaths due to hemorrhage (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Limited availability of blood for transfusion in countries with high maternal mortality ratios may hinder comprehensive care of mothers. The results presented here underscore the need for the formation of voluntary blood donors in the pursuit of improved maternal health.
Cruz
J R
JR
Technology and Health Services Delivery Area, Pan American Health Organization, NW, Washington, DC, USA. cruzjose@paho.org
D001782:Blood Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014900:West Indies / Q000453:epidemiology