A new Lancet Series has outlined a global blueprint aimed at significantly reducing deaths caused by postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide.
The series estimates that excessive bleeding after childbirth affects about 27 million women annually and kills nearly 43,000 women each year.
In a press statement by the World Health Organization (WHO), the report also places the global economic burden of the condition at more than USD10 billion every year, affecting health systems, families and national economies.
For Kenya, childbirth complications remain a critical concern, claiming the lives of approximately 16 mothers every day.
The maternal mortality ratio in Kenya stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births and the leading causes of these fatalities are often preventable or treatable with timely intervention.
The Lancet series report produced by leading researchers from Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP); the World Health Organization (WHO); the University of Oxford; and other global partners calls for a major shift in how postpartum hemorrhage is detected and treated.
It recommends the adoption of updated global guidelines, including early diagnosis and treatment when blood loss reaches 300 mL if accompanied by abnormal vital signs.
The series also urges a move away from visual estimation of blood loss, describing it as unreliable and responsible for missed cases and instead advocates the use of calibrated blood collection tools.
The findings further highlight prevention measures such as reducing anemia in pregnancy, expanding access to contraception, limiting medically unnecessary cesarean sections and ensuring the routine use of uterotonic drugs after birth.
Central to the recommendations is a five-in-one emergency response package known as the MOTIVE bundle, which includes uterine massage, administration of oxytocic drugs, tranexamic acid, intravenous fluids and rapid identification of the bleeding source.
The approach is designed to allow midwives and nurses to act immediately, improving survival chances by up to 60 percent.
The report warns that postpartum hemorrhage remains a “race against time,” pointing to delays in diagnosis, treatment, escalation of care and access to blood products as major contributors to maternal deaths.
It calls on governments, health systems and global partners to prioritize implementation of proven interventions, strengthen frontline capacity and ensure all birth facilities are adequately equipped.
The authors say that with effective tools and timely action, thousands of maternal deaths could be prevented each year.
The Kenyan government launched a national two-year plan (2026–2028) two weeks ago to address childbirth complications and strengthen Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative policies.
These policies are designed to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths through enhanced health financing, better infrastructure and a modernized digital referral system.
By Wangari Ndirangu
