Abstract

Background: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains a serious problem for pregnant women worldwide. Anaemia is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiency illnesses affecting pregnant women. Anaemia has been linked to an increased incidence of postpartum bleeding. The study aimed to Evaluate the relationship between postpartum haemorrhage and anaemia, particularly to determine whether anaemia is a risk factor for PPH or not.
Subjects and Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted in the Basra Maternity and Children Hospital in Basra, Iraq, during the period from January 1, 2023, to September 1, 2023. Each woman included is subjected to a full history, examination, and Hb level to determine the level of anaemia.
Results: The study involved 125 women including 81 pregnant women who had anaemia and developed post-partum haemorrhage and 44 pregnant women who had anaemia but didn’t develop PPH after normal vaginal delivery. PPH was developed in 64.8% of the pregnant ladies, and it was mild in 65.4% of the cases and severe in 34.6% of them. Multiparity, higher gestational age, and lack of antenatal care (ANC) are associated with a high prevalence of PPH, but this association was not significant with parity and gestational age and only significant with ANC (P < 0.05). Severe anaemia with Hb levels below 8 g/dl is significantly associated with the development of PPH (P < 0.05), and severe anaemia is also significantly associated with the occurrence of severe PPH (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Severe anaemia with an Hb level below 8 g/dl is significantly associated with an increase in the risk of PPH. It is also associated with significantly increasing the severity of PPH.