Abstract:
Objective: To describe the experience at a single facility regarding single-use emergency medication kits
to treat obstetric emergencies in a resource-poor setting. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted
between October 2009 and October 2010 using data from the medical records of all patients treated with a
single-use obstetric emergency medical kit (E-kit) during admission at the Riley Mother and Baby Hospital
Wing, Eldoret, Kenya. Descriptive analyses were performed to quantify proportions of emergencies treated
using E-kits in the first year of implementation. Summary statistics regarding maternal mortality from
October 2008 to October 2010 were also retrieved to evaluate differences in the maternal mortality rates
in the year of E-kit implementation and the year preceding implementation in order to estimate maternal
mortalities averted with E-kit implementation. Results: In the first year of implementation, 192 patients
were treated using E-kits. Overall, 144 kits were used for treating postpartum hemorrhage, 52 for treating
severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, and 1 for treating cardiopulmonary shock. There was a 30% reduction in
maternal mortality ratio with E-kit implementation; however, results did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion: The results indicate that single-use E-kits may help to achieve a significant reduction in hospital
rates of maternal mortality.
