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Postpartum Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage—excessive bleeding following birth—is the leading cause of maternal death. The majority of these deaths occur in developing countries, where emergency obstetric care is often not available.

In countries like Bangladesh, where an overwhelming majority of childbirths occur at home, postpartum hemorrhage is particularly prevalent. As part of our Mayer Hashi Project, EngenderHealth worked to reduce postpartum hemorrhage in Bangladesh, by making a lifesaving drug, misoprostol, more widely available for women who deliver at home. In collaboration with our partners, EngenderHealth expanded a community-based misoprostol program in six districts of Bangladesh. As a result of our program’s success, the government of Bangladesh will expand the misoprostol intervention nationally as a means of preventing postpartum hemorrhage, to reach as many pregnant women and save as many lives as possible.

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