Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) represents a quarter of all pregnancy-related mortality worldwide and an even higher percentage in sub-Saharan Africa . The following observation was made during focus group discussions with traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in Kigoma, Tanzania, as part of a study using misoprostol to treat PPH. Such study is yielding encouraging results, but even without misoprostol, the ability to measure blood loss and to seek medicalcare at the correct moment can decrease PPH-associated morbidity and mortality .Clinical observation of blood loss tends to underestimate the actual loss by 34-50% . The standard of 500 ml is the internationally accepted threshold for clinically dangerous PPH and more accurate measurement would permit women to be referred at the correct moment, significantly decreasing PPH morbidity and mortality .
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