Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) occurs in an estimated 27 million women worldwide each year, resulting in about 43,000 deaths — one every 12 minutes, according to a new series published in The Lancet. The condition affects 12.6% of vaginal births and 30.9% of caesarean births, based on conventional definitions.
Subjective visual estimation of blood loss misses 52% of PPH diagnoses at vaginal birth, the research found, and likely performs even worse during caesarean sections. The WHO and other global health bodies now recommend objective quantification using calibrated blood collection drapes to improve detection.
Prevention strategies extend beyond uterotonic drugs, which contract the uterus after delivery. The series argues that a broader toolkit of interventions could reduce the toll on both patients and health systems, particularly in low-resource settings where access to treatment is limited.
Early and accurate diagnosis remains a race against time. The findings underscore that better training, equipment, and protocol adherence could save tens of thousands of lives annually. Experts call for urgent scale-up of evidence-based practices.
Some clinicians caution that implementing new diagnostic tools widely may face cost and training barriers, especially in rural clinics. The authors acknowledge that systemic investment is needed to turn guidelines into practice.