Work

Blood transfusion rates for pregnancy-related haemorrhage in South Asian countries: A scoping review

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Background : Haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality, responsible for at least 27 . 1% of maternal deaths in lower-income countries. Blood transfusion is a critical intervention for managing haemorrhage, but all South Asian countries face blood supply shortages. Our review aims to summarise transfusion rates for haemorrhagic complications from early pregnancy to the postpartum period in South Asia. Methods : We conducted a scoping review using PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and grey literature, supplemented by hand searches. Data extraction focused on study location, total population transfused, cause of haemorrhage, blood transfusion rates and reporting of anaemia. Pooled transfusion rates (PTRs) were calculated for haemorrhagic conditions with multiple studies. Findings : Forty nine sources were included, primarily from India (59%) and most common study designs were observational (82%). PTRs for specific conditions were: placenta accreta spectrum 97 . 3%, placenta previa 64 . 8%, self-terminated pregnancy 60 . 8% and ectopic pregnancy 49 . 8%. Single-study data reported transfusion rates of 25% for retained placenta and 92 . 5% for uterine rupture. PTRs for caesarean section and vaginal deliveries were 8 . 63% and 1 . 9% respectively. Only half of the studies reported anaemia status. Interpretation : We identified high blood transfusion rates for pregnancy-related haemorrhagic events in South Asia as well as notable data gaps and inconsistent anaemia reporting. Our findings highlight the need for region-specific transfusion data to inform blood resource allocation and policy-making. Addressing these gaps and strengthening health systems are vital for improving maternal health outcomes in South Asia. Fundings: No funding was received for this study

Source: Research Square

DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-11506609/v1