GENEVA — Health authorities have launched a new global blueprint to combat postpartum haemorrhage, one of the leading causes of maternal deaths worldwide, officials said on Friday.
The initiative, outlined in a Lancet Series published on Thursday, provides consolidated guidelines and recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of excessive bleeding after childbirth.
Postpartum haemorrhage affects an estimated 27 million women annually and is responsible for nearly 43,000 maternal deaths each year, according to the Series led by researchers from HRP — the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme — the World Health Organization and the University of Oxford.
It also imposes substantial economic costs, exceeding $10 billion globally each year for health systems, countries and families, the researchers said.
The blueprint emphasizes updated approaches to detection and management. Key changes include treating postpartum haemorrhage when blood loss reaches 300 millilitres if accompanied by abnormal vital signs, and using calibrated drapes to measure blood loss accurately instead of visual estimation, which the Series states misses about half of cases.
"A simple 5-in-1 first-response treatment bundle, known as the PPH bundle with the acronym MOTIVE, can transform outcomes," the Series states. The bundle includes uterine massage, oxytocic drugs, tranexamic acid, intravenous fluids and examination for the source of bleeding.
The approach is designed to enable midwives and nurses to act immediately, potentially reducing progression to life-threatening haemorrhage by up to 60 percent, researchers said.
The Series highlights missed opportunities for prevention, including reducing anaemia during pregnancy, addressing unmet contraceptive needs, avoiding unnecessary caesarean sections and ensuring effective uterotonic medicines are given after birth.
Postpartum haemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where most deaths occur. The new guidelines build on existing WHO recommendations and aim to address critical delays in diagnosis, treatment and access to blood products.
Implementation challenges persist, including equipping facilities and training frontline workers. The Series calls on governments, health systems and international partners to prioritize the condition.
"By equipping every birth facility, empowering frontline health workers, and adopting proven interventions at scale, thousands of lives could be saved each year," the researchers concluded.
The WHO has released accompanying implementation guidance alongside the Lancet Series. Details on specific country-level rollout plans remained unclear as of Friday.
