Low-Cost Injections Decrease Death Rate During Childbirth

Every year, more than 500,000 women die as a result of childbirth - mainly from excessive bleeding known as postpartum hemorrhage.

In response, USAID has launched a special initiative to make available low-cost injections of drugs that can stop such bleeding within minutes and save lives, no matter how far from hospitals and clinics births take place.

On average, a woman will die within two hours after the onset of excessive bleeding if she does not receive prompt treatment. Maternal deaths are highest when women lack medical care, transport systems, and emergency services.

Programs are being designed and funded in Benin, Ethiopia, Mali, and Zambia, and activities have already begun in Indonesia. The goal is to equip birth attendants in homes, health centers, and hospitals with the skills, drugs, and other supplies to reduce maternal mortality.

"Most of these deaths occur in developing countries, often because women lack access to lifesaving care," said Dr. Abdelhadi , USAID's senior advisor on this issue. "Our maternal and neonatal health programs promote skilled attendance at birth and the provision of lifesaving basic essential obstetric care."

Substantial declines in maternal deaths have already been achieved in the last 15 years in Egypt (52 percent decline), Bangladesh (22 percent), and Honduras (41 percent).

Excessive bleeding after childbirth usually occurs after the infant is delivered but before expulsion of the placenta. Excessive bleeding usually results from delayed delivery of the placenta or failure of the uterus to contract. When this happens, bleeding from blood vessels in the uterus is uncontrolled. Anemic women are particularly susceptible, though two-thirds of cases occur in women with no identifiable risk factors.

The American College of Nurse-Midwives, filiate JHPIEGO, Management Sciences for Health have joined together on this initiative.

"We are putting the spotlight on prevention of excessive bleeding within the context of ongoing maternal child health services and safe motherhood programs," said Dr. E. Anne Peterson, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Global Health.

"If we increase knowledge and skills in the community and health facilities and prepare frontline providers to focus first and foremost on the biggest maternal killer, we will save mothers and their children."

Read the April 2003 Issue of Frontlines [PDF, 1.6MB]