Revolutionary Intervention Reduces Maternal Deaths from Postpartum Bleeding.
A new study has found that a simple and inexpensive intervention can prevent maternal deaths caused by postpartum hemorrhage. The intervention involves using a plastic sheet with a small transparent pouch to collect blood, which allows medical teams to quickly gauge the amount of blood loss and take swift action. The study, carried out in 80 hospitals across four African countries, used a "blood collection drape" to collect and measure the amount of blood from women who have just given birth. The device, combined with a bundle of treatment options recommended by the World Health Organization, reduced the number of women experiencing severe bleeding by 60%. The cost of the sheet-with-a-pouch is between $1-2.