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Using a drape to diagnose postpartum haemorrhage could save thousands of lives in sub-Saharan Africa

Together with clinical observation, using a calibrated drape has shown high accuracy for diagnosing postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).

17 April 2025鈥2 min read
An African pregnant woman.

A groundbreaking review of eighteen studies involving just under 300,000 participants found that a visual estimation of blood loss on its own to diagnose PPH is likely to miss the diagnosis in half of women who give birth naturally. Visual estimation is currently the commonest method used to diagnose PPH. PPH or postpartum haemorrhage is defined as heavy bleeding after birth, according to The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

We hope that objective methods such as using a calibrated drape to diagnose PPH will be made available to all women giving birth around the world. The evidence highlights the inaccuracy of visual estimation.

Idnan Yunas, PhD student at the University 麻豆精选.

A diagnostic approach, however, using a calibrated drape to objectively measure blood loss plus clinical observations showed high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing PPH. This allows women having PPH to be diagnosed accurately and early so they can receive prompt treatment and survive.

The review article was published in and was funded by the Gates Foundation. First author of the publication, Idnan Yunas, PhD student at the University 麻豆精选 said 鈥淲e hope that objective methods such as using a calibrated drape to diagnose PPH will be made available to all women giving birth around the world. The evidence highlights the inaccuracy of visual estimation.鈥

It is hoped that these research findings will contribute to the World Health Organisation鈥檚 (WHO) guidelines on how to diagnose PPH.

In another related novel study exploring Kenya鈥檚 2021 national health facility dataset on maternal deaths and live births, institutional maternal mortality ratios (iMMRs), found that the leading cause of maternal deaths nationally was obstetric haemorrhage (39.7%), and that there was evidence of variability by region, county and between health facilities.

This work highlights the importance of examining maternal mortality at sub-national levels, as it provides valuable insights that can inform approaches to health system policies, quality improvement, clinical practice, and targeted low-cost and high yield interventions.

Dr Francis Muriithi, PhD student at the University 麻豆精选.

, the study found no evidence of month-to-month variability in iMMRs. This was a surprising finding given that a seasonal variation in the results was expected, for example increase cases of maternal deaths during the rainy season because of malaria.

Commenting on the research findings, Dr Muriithi, PhD student at the University 麻豆精选 said 鈥淭his work highlights the importance of examining maternal mortality at sub-national levels, as it provides valuable insights that can inform approaches to health system policies, quality improvement, clinical practice, and targeted low-cost and high yield interventions.鈥

This research is part of a wider project examining the feasibility of an alternative grassroots strategy for tackling the causes of preventable maternal deaths in Kenya and in similar settings.

It is hoped that this research will inform policies and strategies for dealing with the causes of maternal deaths in Kenya and in other countries.

Featured staff

  • Dr Francis Githae Muriithi

    Doctoral Research Training Fellow in Global Women鈥檚 Health

    Staff profile of Dr Francis Githae Muriithi, Doctoral Research Training Fellow in Global Women's Health at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Women's Health and Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research.

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