Prenatal iron supplementation may reduce maternal deaths associated with postpartum hemorrhage. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Cost-effectiveness of misoprostol and prenatal iron supplementation as maternal mortality interventions in home births in rural India.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2009 Mar;104(3):189-93. Epub 2008 Dec 11. PMID: 19081564
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21224-2780, USA. [email protected]
OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost-effectiveness of prenatal iron supplementation and misoprostol use as interventions to prevent maternal mortality in home births in rural India. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis depicted three hypothetical cohorts of 10,000 pregnant women delivering at home in rural India: one with no intervention, one receiving standard prenatal iron supplements, and 1 receiving 600 microg of misoprostol in the third stage of labor. RESULTS: Misoprostol used to prevent postpartum hemorrhage resulted in a 38% (95% CI, 5%-73%) decrease in maternal deaths, while prenatal iron supplementation resulted in a 5% (95% CI, 0%-47%) decrease. Misoprostol cost a median US $1401 (IQR US $1008-$1848) prenatal iron supplementation cost a median US $2241 (IQR No Lives Saved-$3882) per life saved compared with the standard care outcome. CONCLUSION: Misoprostol is a cost-effective maternal mortality intervention for home births. Iron supplementation may be worthwhile to improve women's health, but it is uncertain whether it can prevent mortality after hemorrhage.