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The worldwide burden of postpartum haemorrhage: Policy development where inaction is lethal
Author(s) -
Potts Malcolm,
Hemmerling Anke
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(06)60003-9
Subject(s) - medicine , postpartum haemorrhage , economic shortage , misoprostol , maternal death , maternal morbidity , intensive care medicine , obstetrics , pregnancy , environmental health , population , government (linguistics) , abortion , linguistics , philosophy , biology , genetics
Most maternal deaths occur to women who are not attended by trained health professionals. Postpartum hemorrhage is the single most common cause of maternal death. The delivery of large haemochorial placenta in our species predisposes to heavy bleeding and can be dealt with only by using effective uterotonics. The 1987 Safe Motherhood Initiative has failed to reduce maternal mortality significantly, and shortages of trained personnel will not be remedied in the foreseeable future. Bold new policies are imperative and need to be derived from an appropriate evidence base. It is suggested that these should include the low‐cost shock garments in primary health facilities and making misoprostol easily accessible in both the public and private sector.