Post-partum haemorrhage: the diagnosis and management in a level 3 maternity hospital in a low-income country

Objective. Postpartum haemorrhage is a serious condition of the peripartum period that leads to very high maternal morbidity and mortality. It is the leading cause of maternal mortality in our country. The definition and risk factors of this pathology are well known. The management of postpartum haemorrhage must be rapid and effective and depends mainly on the speed of diagnosis.
Materials and Methods. This is a prospective descriptive study carried out in Ward D of the Tunis Maternity and Neo­natology Centre, which is a level 3 maternity ward. We includ­ed all cases of postpartum haemorrhage managed in this ser­vice during the period from January 2018 to December 2023. We looked for complications and assessed the management of pathology.
Results. We collected 94 cases of postpartum haemorrhage. The mean age of the pregnant women was 29.9 years, with extremes ranging from 18 to 42 years. The mean parity was 1.9 with extremes ranging from G1 to G6. The mean parity was 1.8. There were 12 cases of diabetes mellitus and 6 cases of treated hypothyroidism. Fever was noted in 6% of cases. Birth was by caesarean section in 74% of cases. 16% of the newborns were admitted to neonatology.
Conclusions. Postpartum haemorrhage is a common pathol­ogy specific to pregnancy, which can be the cause of several serious complications that can threaten the vital prognosis of the mother. It is one of the most frequent causes of maternal mortality in our country. treatment is the only way to guaran­tee a favourable outcome.