Postpartum Hemorrhage: Incidence, Causes and Maternal Outcomes at Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania—A Retrospective Descriptive Hospital-Based Study

Abstract

Worldwide obstetric hemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal mortality, accounting for over one quarter of maternal deaths. Over half of these deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa with mortality rates of 500 -1000 per 100,000 births, compared to approximately 5 -10 in developed countries. Over decades in Sub Saharan Africa preventive measures and treatment protocols have been made to reduce maternal mortality caused by PPH. While rates of postpartum hemorrhage have continued to rise, there is a need to evaluate if its etiology and patterns have changed over time. Broad Objective: This study aims at describing trends in incidence, causes and maternal outcomes of Postpartum Hemorrhage at Muhimbili National Hospital for a period of 7 years. Methodology: This is a retrospective descriptive hospital-based study that has included all cases of postpartum hemorrhage at Muhimbili National Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Tanzania from 2014 to 2020. The data was analyzed using SPSS Version 26 and presented using frequency tables, figures and percentages. The trends of postpartum hemorrhage over time were determined using chi-square test and P-value where less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Overall, the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage has been fluctuating over the years with minimum