AbstractBackground: Maternal death from obstetric hemorrhage is a global problem. Approximately 30 percent of direct maternal deaths worldwide are due to haemorrhage, mostly in the post – partum period. Post partum haemorrhage complicates approximately 4% of vaginal deliveries and 6% of caesarean deliveries. The purpose of this study is to determine causes of PPH, risk factors, preventable factors and to assess treatment measures adopted. Objective: To study the prevalence and risk factors of post partum haemorrhage. Methods: Antenatal patients who had risk factor for postpartum haemorrhage were followed till delivery. Study population also included puerperal women admitted with PPH. Among PPH patients, need of blood and blood component transfusion, need for conservative surgical procedures to treat PPH was studied. Results: The prevalence of PPH in the present study was found to be 5.9%. In the present study, anemia (p=0.0002), uterine malformation (p=0.02), Previous episode of PPH (p<0.0001), genital tract trauma (p=0.027) and Retained placenta (p=0.01), is found to be significant risk factor for PPH. Whereas Placenta praevia was not found to be a statistically significant risk factor for PPH (p= 0.62). Among the patients who had PPH, transfusion of blood and blood products were needed in 23 (65.7%) patients. Conclusion: In the present study, the risk factors which are observed are retained placenta, anemia, uterine malformation (bicornuate uterus), retained placenta lower genital tract trauma and previous history of PPH.
Keywords: Prevalence; Risk Factors; Retained Placenta; Obstetric Haemorrhage; Anemia.