TITLE:
Epidemiology of Immediate Postpartum Hemorrhage in District Hospitals in Burkina Faso, West Africa
AUTHORS:
Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Yobi Alexis Sawadogo, Dieudonné Hien, Adama Ouattara, Karim Nacanabo, Boubacar Bansé, Mahamado Bargo, Esther Wendtoin Belem, Adama Bahadio, Koudougou Edmond Kinda, Salif Sana, Daniel Sandaogo, Fousseny Kondombo, Abdoul Razakou Ilboudo, Pouraogo Romuald Konkobo, Charlemagne Ouédraogo
KEYWORDS:
Immediate Postpartum Hemorrhage, Epidemiology, District Hospitals
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.16 No.1,
January
13,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Immediate postpartum hemorrhage is a serious obstetric complication. It is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity. Objectives: To study the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic aspects of immediate postpartum hemorrhage in district hospitals in Burkina Faso from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022. Methodology: This was a descriptive and analytical multicenter cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection over a two-year period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022. The study was conducted in ten district hospitals in Burkina Faso. The study included patients treated for immediate postpartum hemorrhage in the ten selected district hospitals. Results: The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage observed in our study was 3.42%. The mean age of patients was 25.2 ± 7 years, with extremes of 14 and 49 years. The majority of patients were housewives (79.80%) and resided in rural areas (73.40%). The main reason for admission was hemorrhage (66.18%), and 56.29% of patients were admitted by referral. We recorded a morbidity rate of 53.77% and a mortality rate of 0.81%. The factors statistically associated with the occurrence of complications were age under 20 years, admission by referral or evacuation, fewer than four prenatal contacts, and preterm delivery. Conclusion: Immediate postpartum hemorrhage remains a common obstetric complication in district hospitals in Burkina Faso. Identifying prognostic factors in our study is an important step towards improving patient care.