Published in The Lancet Global Health, the research, part of the large-scale E-MOTIVE cluster-randomised trial, analysed more than 2,500 births across 39 hospitals in Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. The study assessed when and how PPH is diagnosed and compared clinical approaches across different national contexts.
Understanding the Global Challenge
Postpartum haemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, responsible for around 70,000 preventable deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The majority of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where delays in recognising and treating excessive bleeding are common.
Traditionally, PPH has been defined as blood loss of 500 millilitres or more within 24 hours of birth. However, evidence has long suggested that the most severe bleeding and maternal deaths occur within the first one to two hours after delivery. The new study challenges the adequacy of this traditional threshold and timing, providing real-world data to inform global re-evaluation of PPH definitions.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health website.