A simple, lightweight outfit that can be worn in three minutes could save thousands of women from hemorrhaging during childbirth in impoverished countries.
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| Every year, over 500,000 mothers die worldwide. (Image: VNN) |
This is the outfit designed for women experiencing postpartum hemorrhage. The outfit is made from neoprene (a type of synthetic rubber) and is reusable. It resembles the lower half of a wetsuit and consists of five parts that are secured with Velcro (a fastener made of two strips of nylon, one rough and one smooth, which stick together when pressed).
Dr. Suellen Miller, a maternal health expert at the University of California, San Francisco, conducted a study testing the effects of this outfit on 364 women in Egypt.
In this study, researchers fitted 206 women experiencing childbirth hemorrhage with the shock-resistant outfit, comparing the results with 158 women treated using conventional methods. The study found that this shock-resistant outfit could reduce mortality and severe illness by 69%. The women wearing the shock-resistant outfit lost only half the amount of blood compared to those who did not.
Dr. Suellen Miller commented that these results are significant, especially since the outfit can be put on easily within three minutes without any medical training. While medication can effectively stop bleeding, the outfit can mitigate the shock the patient’s body endures.
Dr. Miller estimates that the cost of each shock-resistant outfit for mothers is around $160, with each outfit being usable and washable about 40 times.
Currently, the research team is expanding the trials of the shock-resistant outfit for mothers in Egypt and other countries such as Nigeria and Yemen.
Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of death among mothers. Each year, about 30% of the over 500,000 women, most of whom are impoverished, die during childbirth due to hemorrhage. When in shock, the patient’s brain, heart, and lungs lose oxygen because blood is redirected to the lower parts of the body, namely the abdomen and legs. The compression from the shock-resistant outfit helps redistribute blood from the lower extremities and abdomen to vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and brain. Within minutes of wearing the shock-resistant outfit, a woman experiencing hemorrhage can regain consciousness, and vital signs will normalize. This outfit is designed to keep mothers alive until they receive treatment in a hospital. |
