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MAJOR PROJECTS
Continuum of Care: Addressing Postpartum Hemorrhage in India and Nigeria
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the world. With support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and in collaboration with Dr. Suellen Miller of the University of California at San Francisco, Dr. Stacie Geller of the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Dr. Oladosu Ojengbede of University of Ibadan, Pathfinder launched the Continuum of Care project in November 2007. The project aims to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with postpartum hemorrhage in India and Nigeria—both of which rank among countries with the highest maternal mortality in the world.
The project's continuum of care model focuses on prevention and care from the community level—where women are most likely to give birth at home or in poorly equipped health centers—to higher level facilities where they can receive care for complications. The continuum of care model incorporates, as needed, active management of the third stage of labor including administration of an appropriate drug (uterotonic); a blood collection drape (which measures blood loss and can signal when a woman is in danger); the non-pneumatic anti-shock garment (which is placed on a woman to control PPH until she reaches emergency obstetric care); and improved communication and transportation systems to help move women to emergency care. The project also engages in sustained advocacy to lay groundwork for the further expansion of these intervention technologies.
The ultimate goal of the project is to prevent postpartum hemorrhage and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. To do so, the project objectives are to:
- Increase community and provider understanding of the causes and consequences of postpartum hemorrhage, and expand awareness of the role of family and community participation in preventing maternal mortality and morbidity;
- Support postpartum hemorrhage prevention and management activities;
- Educate target audiences about new technologies available to address PPH, and how they fit into the continuum of care model; and
- Mobilize policy makers, government officials, media, NGOs, and communities to advocate for use of the full continuum of care model.
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