Abstract:
Post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of maternal
morbidity and mortality in both the developed and developing
world. In South Africa, obstetric haemorrhage is the second most
common cause of maternal death resulting in 688 deaths between
2008-2010.1 The institutional maternal mortality rate (MMR) for
obstetric haemorrhage during this period was 24.9 deaths per
100 000 live births. This is an increase from the previous triennium
when the total deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage was 491 and
the MMR 18.8.2 Countries such as Australia, Canada, United States
and Ireland have reported increasing trends in post-partum
haemorrhage over the last decade.3-6 However the rise in postpartum
haemorrhage rates in these countries have not been
associated with increasing haemorrhage-related maternal
mortality rates.
