Pilot study of single-use obstetric emergency medical kits to reduce maternal mortality.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the experience at a single facility regarding single-use emergency medication kits to treat obstetric emergencies in a resource-poor setting.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted between October 2009 and October 2010 using data from the medical records of all patients treated with a single-use obstetric emergency medical kit (E-kit) during admission at the Riley Mother and Baby Hospital Wing, Eldoret, Kenya. Descriptive analyses were performed to quantify proportions of emergencies treated using E-kits in the first year of implementation. Summary statistics regarding maternal mortality from October 2008 to October 2010 were also retrieved to evaluate differences in the maternal mortality rates in the year of E-kit implementation and the year preceding implementation in order to estimate maternal mortalities averted with E-kit implementation.


RESULTS
In the first year of implementation, 192 patients were treated using E-kits. Overall, 144 kits were used for treating postpartum hemorrhage, 52 for treating severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, and 1 for treating cardiopulmonary shock. There was a 30% reduction in maternal mortality ratio with E-kit implementation; however, results did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that single-use E-kits may help to achieve a significant reduction in hospital rates of maternal mortality.
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya.
Mercy N
MN
Ouma
Benjamin T
BT
Chemwolo
Sonak
S
Pastakia
Astrid
A
Christoffersen-Deb
Sierra
S
Washington
D004209:Disposable Equipment; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000628:therapy*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index