Blood Loss Measurement Following Vaginal Delivery for Timely Diagnosis of Postpartum Hemorrhage

Abstract

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), excessive bleeding after childbirth, is the leading cause of maternal mortality globally [1]. At Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Ghana, medical professionals visually estimate the volume of blood on the floor after vaginal delivery (80% of all births), which reportedly leads to underestimation [8, 9]. Underestimation delays the start of first-line treatment for PPH, which increases risk of PPH-related morbidities and mortalities, and often results in surgery [9]. The goal of this project is to design a blood measurement device, applicable to low-resource settings, for timely diagnosis of PPH following a vaginal delivery.